Jonesboro Hit and Run Accidents

After a hit and run accident, it is important to identify as many details about the fleeing vehicle and its driver as possible under the circumstances. You should note the license plate number and be able to provide a physical description of the other vehicle, as well as its damages. Describing the other driver will be helpful too. Sometimes, intoxicated drivers will leave the scene because they do not want to be charged with drunk driving. This information will assist the responding police officer with locating the other vehicle and identifying the defendant driver.

Of course, remembering such information may not be possible, especially if the impact was severe enough to cause you to be incapacitated or lose consciousness. If so, there may be other ways to gather information. For instance, the responding police officer may be able to interview eyewitnesses who can provide helpful details about the other vehicle and its driver. If the crash occurred near a place of business, surveillance footage may be available. However, this information can disappear over time, meaning it is critical to consult with a car wreck lawyer in the Jonesboro area as soon as possible.

Hit-and-run accidents remain a widespread issue nationwide. In 2022 alone, an estimated 189,462 hit-and-run crashes occurred across the United States, underscoring the importance of swift action and thorough investigation when the at-fault driver flees the scene.

If the police are able to locate the at-fault party and he has liability insurance coverage, then you may be able to file a claim with the liability carrier seeking compensation for the damages you sustained in the accident. If the police are unable to locate the defendant, then you may be able to file an uninsured motorist claim with your own insurance company if you carry that coverage on your policy. In either case, an experienced attorney will be able to help you assert a convincing claim for damages based on the evidence available.

To succeed in either a liability or uninsured motorist claim, you will need to prove that the defendant’s negligence caused the accident and your injuries. If you are able to prove the other driver’s liability, then you can recover compensation for your economic and non-economic damages caused by the defendant’s negligence. Economic damages normally include medical bills, lost wages, and other out of pocket expenses, like prescriptions. Non-economic damages can include pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and loss of enjoyment of life.

If you have been injured in a Jonesboro auto accident, including a hit and run accident, you must either settle your bodily injury claim or file a lawsuit within three years of the date of the crash. Otherwise, your claim is time barred and your right to sue for your injuries can be lost forever. This statute of limitation is a strict deadline, even if it takes months or longer to locate the defendant.