Car crashes are usually scary and traumatic. Whether you were injured or not, you could be facing significant expenses. If you get hurt, you could also face a lengthy recovery and substantial medical bills. However, the impact of a car accident can be even harder to bear if it was a hit and run in Georgia.
Under Georgia’s laws, the driver of any vehicle involved in an accident is required to stop. They must find out whether anyone received injuries and if anything was damaged. They should also report the accident to law enforcement or exchange contact details with the other party. Failure to do so is a crime. The driver can be charged with either a felony or a misdemeanor, depending on the circumstances. Despite this, many drivers flee the scene.
If you don’t know who was driving the car, you can’t file a claim with their insurer. However, this doesn’t mean your situation is hopeless. You need to get an experienced Albany accident attorney on your side and take the right steps to protect your interests. Immediately after the accident, you need to call the police and report that the driver fled the scene. You also need to see medical attention. Next, you need to call a lawyer.
Advice from A Georgia Automobile Accident Attorney
Anytime you are injured in a car accident, legal representation can improve your ability to get compensation. However, if you were injured in a hit and run accident, it’s even more important. It doesn’t matter whether you were a motorist, pedestrian or bicyclist at the time of the accident. You will need to do everything you can to get the compensation you deserve.
It all starts with collecting evidence from the scene so you can give the police something to work with. If you are seriously injured, you won’t be able to do anything. However, if you are able, you should:
- Take photos of the scene
- Capture the damage to your vehicle
- Write down everything you remember about the driver who fled and their vehicle
- Look around for eyewitnesses and ask for their contact information
Your attorney will help you to collect proof of what occurred, and they can assist you in filing the police report.
An Albany Accident Attorney on How Police Track Down the Driver in a Hit and Run in Georgia
Police officers have many avenues at their disposal. They will get the initial details from you and any passengers you may have been carrying. After that, they will seek out other sources of potentially helpful information including:
- Eyewitnesses – If you collected contact information for eyewitnesses, you should have passed this on the police. Bystanders and other drivers often see things which accident victims don’t. Their recollection of what occurred can be of significant help.
- Surveillance cameras – There are several cameras around these days, ranging from highway cameras to security cameras on homes and businesses. One of them may have captured the accident and this could very well help the police to locate the driver.
- Neighbors – Often, individuals in homes or businesses near the scene of the accident see or hear something. They may be able to provide information which can lead the police to the driver of the car.
- TV and social media – If your accident was particularly serious, the police may appeal for information in a more public way. They can use television or social media to encourage people with information to come forward. Sometimes, the driver surrenders at this point. In some cases, this may be the first time they realize they actually hit someone.
Contact Joe Durham Jr. P.C. Today to Discuss Your Hit and Run in Georgia Case
When you need an Albany accident lawyer to handle your case, reach out to our firm. Hit and run accidents can be difficult to deal with but you shouldn’t assume that you’ll never get compensation. We’ll help you explore every available opportunity for recovering your losses. Even if the police never find the driver, you may be able to draw on your uninsured motorist coverage. We can assist you in filing your claim and providing the supporting evidence. If you’ve already filed a claim and it’s been denied, we can help you to submit a fresh claim.
We don’t believe you should have to deal with the aftermath of a hit and run in Georgia alone. No matter what the circumstances are, we will do what we can to help you. If you want to get justice, schedule a consultation with our experienced attorneys today.
