Can I Recover Money From a Hit and Run Pedestrian Accident?
There are few things more shocking and unjust than being struck by a car or truck only to have the driver flee the scene. As with any vehicle accident involving a pedestrian, it is the pedestrian who nearly always suffers the worst injuries, and because the pedestrian was not driving at the time, he or she may not be covered by a personal auto insurance policy. When the other driver has left the scene without providing contact or insurance information, the pedestrian is left with medical bills and other losses and the question of whether there is anyone from whom money can be recovered in the hit and run pedestrian accident.
The Challenges of a Hit-and-Run Suit
In a typical pedestrian accident involving a driver, the plaintiff-pedestrian would file suit against the driver (and the driver’s employer if the accident occurred on the job) to recover damages, and it would have to be shown that the driver was at least partially at fault in causing the accident. Then the driver and his or her insurance company (and potentially the employer) would be required to pay the plaintiff’s losses, either through a verdict or a settlement.
With a hit-and-run, the obvious issue is that the driver has left the scene and tracking that person down can be difficult. This is where working with an experienced pedestrian accident attorney, however, can be critical to your ability to recover. Although the police may put in some effort to locate the driver, a pedestrian accident attorney has the added motivation of a contingency recovery on your behalf to use all available investigative resources to track down the driver and bring them to justice. In many cases, a hit-and-run driver will be required to pay the victim increased damages as a result of their fleeing the scene.
Even if your attorney is unable to locate the driver, he will be able to negotiate with your insurance company for the best possible payout, and he may find other potentially negligent parties to sue, which can include the owner of the property on which the hit-and-run occurred (e.g. the city).
Get Help From an Experienced Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
If you or someone you love has been involved in a pedestrian accident in Pasadena or Los Angeles, the attorneys at the Law Offices of Andrew Ritholz will work to get you the justice you deserve and track down all available sources of recovery. For a FREE consultation with a Southern California pedestrian accident lawyer, contact us today.
