Most traffic laws in Maryland are relatively straightforward. Drivers have an obligation to stop and file a report after a crash. Doing so helps ensure that the right party has accountability for the collision.
Unfortunately, most people would prefer to avoid responsibility for a crash even when they are clearly at fault. It is somewhat common for someone who knows they broke the law, drove while drunk, got behind the wheel without a license or let their insurance policy lapse to try to flee the scene of a collision.
They want to avoid legal and financial responsibility for causing the crash. Unfortunately, their actions can have dire consequences for the other people involved in the hit-and-run collision. There are many ways in which hit-and-run collisions cause negative consequences for the people left behind at the scene of the wreck.
The aftermath of a hit-and-run crash
First and foremost is the possibility of a poor medical outcome if someone does not receive immediate intervention for traumatic collision injuries. Research indicates that there has been a significant increase in hit-and-run crashes overall, including fatal hit-and-run collisions. Additionally, a hit-and-run leaves those who didn’t flee the scene at a major economic disadvantage.
Those involved in a hit-and-run crash may physically be unable to help themselves from the scene or get medical attention as they were left alone. If they are conscious and able they need to call the police and seek immediate medical attention. At that point they need to gather all the facts and make an insurance claim either against the at-fault-party, if discoverable, or their own insurance company. Frequently, the best option for someone involved in a hit-and-run crash entails securing legal representation.
Attorneys can also sometimes help people access critical records that could lead to the resolution of a hit-and-run case by identifying the party at fault.
An attorney can also play an important role in any insurance claim that someone files. Both people using their own uninsured motorist coverage for a hit-and-run and those seeking coverage from an identified hit-and-run driver may have an uphill battle ahead. In cases involving uninsured drivers who fled the scene of a crash, a lawsuit might be the only way to hold them financially accountable for the collision.
As such, learning about the potential consequences of a hit-and-run collision may help people choose their next step forward. Those who have the right assistance are in a better position to obtain a positive result in securing compensation for their injuries and losses.
