It’s never easy to deal with the aftermath of a car accident, but it can be especially difficult to know what to do after a hit-and-run accident. And it looks like hit-and-run accidents are on the rise: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that the number of fatal hit-and-run accidents rose from 1,274 in 2009 to 1,449 in 2011.
What are you supposed to do if the driver who hit you sped away and left you with no trace of their license plate number, their insurance card, or even a decent description of what they looked like? A hit-and-run accident can be extremely frustrating, but with the right legal representation, you can better understand how to recover compensation for your accident.
WHAT IS GEORGIA LAW REGARDING HIT AND RUN ACCIDENTS?
Georgia law states that the driver of any vehicle involved in an accident must stop and survey any property damage or injury of another driver and exchange contact information or report the incident to the police.
If there is a situation where the owner of the damaged property is not present (e.g. a parked car), then the driver should leave a note describing the accident and report it to the police.
WHAT ARE MY RECOVERY OPTIONS?
The ideal recovery option for compensation would, of course, be the other driver. In some cases, the police can find the hit-and-run driver who left the scene of the accident. In this case, you would be able to file a claim or lawsuit against the driver to receive compensation for property damage or personal injuries.
However, unfortunately, the reason why a driver might leave the scene of the accident in the first place is that they do not have insurance. In this case, it might be best to use your own insurance coverage to pay for the damages and any medical bills you may have incurred.
Another way to recover compensation after a hit-and-run accident is through uninsured motorist coverage. This would obviously require some forethought prior to the accident, but uninsured motorist coverage can come in handy. It’s estimated that ten percent of Georgia drivers are driving uninsured, even though the state requires everyone to carry at least liability insurance.
If you’ve been involved in a hit-and-run accident in Georgia, it can be a confusing and frustrating time. You don’t have to go through it alone. Call the Fry Law office at (404) 948-3571 to set up a no-pressure legal consultation today.
