As if getting into a car accident was not stressful enough, watching the at-fault party speed away from the scene of the accident without stopping and being unable to locate them makes an already challenging situation even more frustrating. These accidents, which usually involve a vehicle crashing into another party or property before fleeing the scene, can be devastating to victims and property owners. Understanding what legal and insurance-related avenues you have available to you to recover compensation following one of these accidents is crucial to getting you back on your feet.
According to a recent news report, the victim of a hit-and-run accident was identified. Local officials reported finding the victim’s body in a drainage ditch more than a mile from where her car was found crashed and empty on the side of the road earlier this month. Initially, police claimed it was impossible that she had floated that far between the locations, but the coroner’s office officially determined that her death was due to trauma from the car accident complicated by drowning. Additional details surrounding the crash remain under investigation, but the victim’s death was ruled an accident. The circumstances surrounding the collision remain under investigation.
In Indiana, like most other states, there are specific laws prohibiting leaving the scene of an accident and causing a hit-and-run collision. If the at-fault party is located, the victim of the accident has two options: first, to make a claim against their insurance, or second, to file a personal injury lawsuit against them.
Not everyone, however, is lucky enough to be able to locate the responsible party in a hit-and-run accident. If you have certain insurance coverage, you may still be able to recover. For example, uninsured motorist coverage can provide compensation for collisions that take place when the driver who caused the crash cannot be located. Because all car insurance policies in Indiana must include some amount of uninsured motorist coverage unless you reject it in writing, you may be able to recover some compensation this way.
Some car insurance policies also include personal injury protection coverage, which can provide up to $10,000 in coverage regardless of who is at fault in an accident. If you are unsure whether this is part of your insurance policy, it is best to check to make sure. Furthermore, if you sustained any injuries or incurred medical expenses as a result of the accident, MedPay coverage can also provide some financial relief for medical expenses regardless of who is at fault. This also depends on whether your specific policy includes the coverage.
Do You Need an Indiana Car Accident Lawyer?
If you or someone you love was recently injured or killed in an Indiana hit-and-run accident, contact attorney Burton A. Padove at Padove Law. In addition to hit-and-run accident lawsuits, our firm has years of experience representing clients in premises liability, products liability, bike accidents, truck accidents, and motorcycle accident claims. To schedule a free initial consultation with a member of our team today, contact us at 219-836-2200.