Drunk Drivers never make good decisions. First, they fail to realize that they are too intoxicated to drive, and second, their ability to drive and make decisions while driving is incredibly impaired. But what's even worse, the drunk driver managed to ruin your night. They hit you, and then they drove off so that they can try and escape what they've done. What do you do in this situation? What if the driver can't be found? Will you get the recovery you need if you were injured? Will your vehicle get the repairs it needs if you can't immediately hold someone responsible for the accident?
In this FAQ, we're going to explore the options you have following a hit and run claim that involves a drunk driver. If you've been in an accident and you need immediate assistance, call our Personal Injury Lawyers in St. Louis at your earliest convenience. We don't charge any fees for our consultations, and we never charge any fees unless we win your claim.
What do I do if the Person who hit me drove off?
Personal Injury Lawyer St. Louis
Any accident, regardless of how damaging the event was, can always be traumatic. Making the correct decisions following an accident can be hard even when the other driver sticks around, but what do you do if they drove off? What do you do if they were drunk driving? You may be thinking that since you didn't get their license plate, or didn't memorize the make and model of their vehicle that there is no way of holding them responsible. That's not true. While it may take time to find the driver and their vehicle, you aren't out of luck when it comes to getting repairs to your vehicle, or medical attention if you are hurt.
In many states, insurance companies are required to carry uninsured driver insurance, which means that if you have coverage and you are hit, and the other driver takes off before sharing any information with you, your insurance company is still required to cover all of your injuries and damages. That's right, you aren't out of luck. You can fully recover from the accident, you will just have to proceed in your claim as if it were a normal car accident claim.
But what happens if the other driver was found? Can you pursue a claim against them for your damages as well? Absolutely. Any person who hits you and drives away before taking any responsibility for the accident can and should be sued to the fullest extent of the law. Now it may take time for the police to find the driver, and in some cases they may never find the driver, but in this event, we are going to go over what options you do have if the driver has been found.
First, you can sue for any and all damages that you've taken on. If you were injured in the accident, you can sue for the medical bills, lost wages, and any other costs you incurred correcting any health issues that arose from the accident. Secondly, you pursue the other driver for damages to your vehicle and any costs you incurred while waiting for repairs to finish, such as rental fees, bus fees, taxi fees, etc. Remember, you didn't ask to be hit, you didn't ask to have additional costs added to our everyday life.
If the driver is sent to jail, can you still recover? It's always possible to recover damages from an individual, even if they go to jail. This can be harder, and it's going to depend on whether the individual has any funds or assets to recover from in the first place. In some cases, they may have nothing, and you'll only be able to make a claim against your own insurance in these cases. These cases can be complicated and difficult, because your insurance isn't going to want to pay out any more than they absolutely have to. If you have any questions about how to pursue a claim of this nature, or how a personal injury lawyer can help you with your claim, call our injury lawyers in St. Louis at your earliest convenience. We can help and you can recover.