Washington DC Hit and Run Lawyer

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DC Hit and Run Law Firm

A DC hit and run occurs when an at-fault driver leaves the scene of an accident. Although this is illegal, some drivers still choose to flee the scene. If you’re the victim of a hit and run accident, you may want to speak with a lawyer. You might be entitled to compensation.

Common Causes of Hit and Run Accidents

Most people know fleeing the scene of an accident is a crime, so you may wonder why some still choose to do it. Here are some common causes of hit and run accidents.

• No auto insurance. Driving without auto insurance is illegal, so some uninsured drivers may leave the scene of an accident because they don’t want to face fines and other penalties.

• Drunk driving. A large percentage of hit and run accidents occur due to drunk driving. Drivers who are under the influence of alcohol may flee the scene of an accident because they don’t want to be charged with a DUI. It can carry heavy penalties, such as fines, jail time and driver’s license suspension.

• Outstanding warrants. Some drivers may flee the scene of a car accident because they know they have outstanding warrants. When a police officer checks their driver’s licenses and sees these warrants, they may be put under arrest.

• Panic. In some situations, a driver may have a clean record, but just drive away due to fear. They may panic and flee the scene because they don’t know what else to do.

Steps to Take After a Hit and Run Accident

Being involved in a DC hit and run can be overwhelming and scary. Here are the steps you should take afterward.

• Contact the police. Fleeing the scene of an accident is a crime, so the police should be notified right away. When police arrive at the scene, tell them everything you may remember, such as the color of the vehicle.

• Seek medical care. Even if you don’t feel too badly after a hit and run accident, you should still seek emergency medical care. Some injuries don’t always show symptoms right away, and you don’t want to put your health in jeopardy. A doctor should evaluate your injuries and recommend the appropriate treatment. 

• Talk to witnesses. If there are bystanders at the accident scene, don’t hesitate to ask them for their names and contact information. They may be able to corroborate with your version of events and help your case.

• Consult a lawyer. If you plan to pursue an injury case against the hit and run driver, you should get in touch with an experienced lawyer. These cases can be quite complex and you want someone knowledgeable and experienced on your side. A lawyer can help you file a timely claim and improve your chances of receiving adequate compensation.

Hit and run car accidents and collisions can be devastating. Getting into a car accident can be the one of the most upsetting events in someone’s life. Your life can be permanently, or at least semi-permanently, disrupted by the legal fees, hospital bills, property damage, and psychological and/or emotional distress. The only thing that can possibly make a car accident worse is if you are injured or your property is damaged, and the other person takes off – a so called hit and run accident. If you or someone close to you has been the victim of a hit and run, consult with the car accident lawyer DC trusts at Cohen & Cohen.

Hit and run accidents are becoming more common, especially in areas like Washington, D.C. where there is a fairly large amount of pedestrian and bike traffic. In September of 2011, Ashley Halsey III wrote an article for the Washington Post, hoping to get information about the huge amount of unsolved hit and run accidents that had happened in the D.C area so far that year. Halsey wrote that there had been seventeen hit and run accidents by September, thirteen of them were fatal, and all of them were unsolved, according to the American Automobile Association.

State Laws Vary. A Hit & Run Lawyer Can Determine Whether You’re Eligible For Compensation

In Washington, D.C., fleeing the scene of the accident is illegal in the case that one motorist causes another motorist injury or substantial property damage. If there is an injury, the driver is required by law to contact the police and stay or leave their information with a coherent party, until the police arrive. In Virginia, drivers involved in any traffic accident are required to wait at the scene for police. If both drivers are injured, they are allowed to drive straight to the hospital but must provide their information in a timely manor. In Maryland, not only is a driver responsible for staying at the scene of the accident if the other party is injured or has damaged property, but they are responsible for attending to the injuries of the other person if they caused the accident. Failure to remain at the scene of the accident in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, D.C., can result in fines, jail time, and enough points to revoke a license.

If someone has abandoned you or a member of your family after causing, or even just being involved in, an accident, the state you live in entitles you to compensation for the damage the other person caused, physically, emotionally, and financially. Leaving the scene of an accident without even checking if the other person is alive is an incredibly cold blooded thing to do, that most people would never dream of doing.

As you can see from Halsey’s article, police cannot be the only resource on whom you rely as you try to recover from your accident. So many car accidents happen that police often do not have the manpower or time to solve each one. However, if you have a witness or piece of evidence, such as the other driver’s license plate number, an experienced hit and run attorney from Cohen & Cohen can help.

Call a trusted hit and run attorney from Cohen and Cohen today! If you have been in a hit and run accident in the D.C. Metro Area, our seasoned attorneys can help you get the compensation you need and deserve! Please do not rely on any advice provided herein, as the laws change periodically. Always contact a lawyer for help and information about your case. If you were in a DC hit and run, you should schedule a consultation with a qualified lawyer from Cohen & Cohen to discuss your case in detail.