There is no way to calculate the average settlement for a hit and run car accident because of the numerous factors that play a role in valuing these cases. Your injuries, the expenses and losses you experienced, and the facts of your crash case all play a role in determining the value of your settlement.
If you hire a collision attorney to manage your claim, they will determine an appropriate settlement value as part of developing your case. A car accident lawyer can explain the potential value of your claim and ensure you don’t settle for less than you deserve.
Factors that Influence the Potential Value of Your Settlement
The factors that might affect the settlement value of a hit and run crash are primarily the same as those that influence other types of accident cases:
- The nature and severity of your injuries
- The amount of your medical bills
- How much time you missed at work
- If you can return to your previous job or work in any capacity
- The damage to your vehicle and your repair bills
Whether you can identify the at-fault driver may also play a role. Filing a lawsuit based on another driver’s auto liability policy allows you to demand a payout based on these damages you might have suffered:
- Medical bills
- Future treatment and care needs
- Lost income
- Diminished earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
Hit and Run Crashes Can Take Time to Investigate
When a driver leaves the scene of a crash, it can make the process of recovering compensation more complicated. In some cases, the police can identify the driver quickly, and the civil claim against them proceeds in the usual manner.
However, don’t be surprised if it takes days or weeks to identify who caused the accident. A lengthy investigation could delay filing your insurance claim or other steps to recovering a settlement in your case.
What You Can do If the At-Fault Driver Is Never Identified
In some cases, the police may never identify the driver who hit you, and there is no evidence of liability. When this occurs, your attorney can help you seek other options for compensation. Most commonly, you would file a claim on your uninsured motorist insurance coverage.
An attorney can file this claim the same way they would pursue damages from the other driver’s insurer and prove your compensation case to your insurance provider. You can potentially recover damages up to your policy limits in this type of claim.
For a free legal consultation, call (800) 537-8185
Shared Fault Can Affect the Outcome of Your Case
Even in a hit and run case, the question of shared fault can play a role. If your carelessness contributed to the crash, you might be partially at fault. How this affects your case will depend on state law.
Imagine you were speeding when the accident occurred. While your excessive speed didn’t cause the crash, it might have worsened your injuries. An insurance adjuster or court could find you 10 percent at fault in the collision. Most states allow you to recover compensation for up to 90 percent of your damages.
However, Alabama and three other states bar you from financial recovery if you contributed to the accident or your injuries at all. Your lawyer can discuss your options if there are allegations of shared fault in your crash case.
Attorneys Play a Crucial Role in Some Hit and Run Accident Cases
Sometimes, an attorney can uncover evidence and identify the at-fault driver in a hit and run crash when the police do not. This discovery can alter the course of your claim. You can pursue fault-based damages and hold the driver responsible. Your attorney will manage this claims process for you.
Across the Gulf South, the deadlines for suing an at-fault driver vary from one year (Louisiana, La. Civ. Code Art. 3492) to three years (Arkansas, Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-105 and Mississippi, Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49). Your attorney will determine:
- Which deadline applies in your case
- If there are exceptions that shorten the window to act
- If you need to sue
- When you need to file the paperwork
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Morris Bart, LLC Provides Complimentary Case Reviews for Accident Victims
At the Morris Bart law office, we have 15 locations serving all four states of the Gulf South – Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas. We are a contingency fee law firm that helps accident victims recover just and fair settlements. We have a team member available now to discuss your case with you.
Call (800) 537-8185 today to get started with a free consultation.
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