Hit and Run Accidents

Being the victim of a hit-and-run accident in Orange County may cause you to feel vulnerable and helpless. A driver fleeing the accident scene may endanger your health and your financial recovery. It is also against the law.

An Orange County car accident lawyer at DiMarco | Araujo | Montevideo will walk you through the uncertainty of a hit-and-run accident to pursue justice, when possible. 

What Are Common Characteristics of Hit and Run Accidents?

As technology advances, leaving the scene of an accident undetected becomes more difficult. Few studies exist on hit-and-run accidents. However, common characteristics emerge in documented cases:

• Pedestrians account for the majority of deaths in hit-and-run accidents
• Incidents occurring in less visible areas are more likely to result in an at-fault driver leaving the accident scene
• Drivers who hit another commuter and run after the accident often have an incentive to flee, potentially to avoid other charges, such as drinking and driving
• A driver may have prior charges and hope to avoid additional legal actions

California drivers rank among the worst drivers in the US. Over 26,000 injuries in California car accidents are the result of hit-and-run accidents, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS).

Common characteristics of California hit-and-run accidents may lead to additional challenges in seeking compensation for your damages

What Are the Legal Challenges of a Hit and Run Accident?

Commuters in a car accident generally take accountability for their actions, with each party accepting financial responsibility for the damages they cause.

In a hit and run accident, a party or parties to the accident flee the scene, making it more unlikely you will recover damages in a personal injury claim. Hit and run accidents may reduce the likelihood of:

• Identifying an at-fault driver after the accident
• Getting the insurance information of an at-fault driver
• Receiving financial compensation for property damages
• Receiving compensation for your medical costs
• Getting the ongoing medical care you need

Without identifying the at-fault driver and seeking compensation from their insurance coverage, your personal insurance must pick up these costs when possible. You may also face out-of-pocket expenses. 

How an Orange County Car Accident Attorney Can Help With a Hit and Run Accident

Evidence in a hit-and-run accident is essential to holding someone responsible for negligence. Contacting our personal injury team may provide the tools necessary to pursue a claim or lawsuit against the driver who harms you and leaves the scene.

Our car accident attorneys with experience in Orange County hit and run accidents may take these actions to offer support for your claim:

• File legal actions to preserve potential video footage of the accident from nearby surveillance or highway cameras
• Speak with eyewitnesses to the accident to gather information about the other party fleeing the accident
• Work closely with law enforcement to identify all parties to the incident
• Assist with identifying the types of insurance coverage that may be available to you
• Serve as a mediator between you and possible insurance companies to negotiate fair compensation

The burden of managing a hit-and-run accident does not have to rest solely on you. The support of our team and a car accident lawyer who understands hit and run accidents may help you recover the compensation that once seemed unattainable. Schedule a free case consultation today.