What to Do After a Hit-and-Run Car Accident in Maryland?

Car accidents are a scary experience, especially if you or a loved one were injured. However, when both parties are able to give a statement and follow the process of alerting insurance companies, it’s somewhat easier. On the other hand, when the at-fault motorist leaves the scene of the car crash, you may feel helpless and worried about car repairs and medical bills. Fortunately, you are far from helpless, and our Baltimore, Maryland attorneys will walk you through what you need to do after a hit-and-run car accident.

If you’ve been involved in a hit-and-run car accident in Maryland, your first priority is to ensure your safety and call 911 to report the incident. Seeking medical attention and notifying local law enforcement is crucial for both your well-being and the official documentation of the collision.

In a hit-and-run car wreck, the at-fault driver leaves the scene without providing their contact or insurance information, making it difficult for injured victims to pursue a claim for their damages and personal injuries. Despite this challenge, there are specific steps you can take to protect your rights, ensure proper documentation, and increase the chances of recovering damages.

How to Handle a Hit-and-Run Car Crash

Hopefully, you will never find yourself in this situation. But in the event that you find yourself having to deal with a hit-and-run car crash, it’s important for you to handle the auto collision with a level head. Here’s a general guideline and steps you can follow if you’re ever in a hit-and-run car accident:

• Call 911. Even if the other driver left the scene, you still need to file a police report. The police may also be able to locate the other vehicle.
• Get medical attention. If you or someone else in your vehicle needs medical attention, be sure to give the 911 operator that information so they can dispatch emergency medical services in addition to law enforcement. If medical care is ongoing after the accident, be sure to follow-up with your doctors, therapists, or another other medical professional’s until you are officially released from their care concerning the crash.
• Write down any information about the other vehicle and driver you can remember. If you got the license plate, write it down. Write down the make, model, and color of the vehicle. If you saw the driver and can remember any details about him or her, write those descriptors down. Everything you can remember will aid law enforcement in locating the hit-and-run driver.
• If there were witnesses to the hit-and-run accident, be sure to get their contact information. If they can stay until law enforcement arrives, they may be able to give details about the collision that you don’t know or didn’t see.
• Document the accident scene. Take photos of the scene, including anything that might have contributed to the accident (for example, non-working traffic lights, obscured traffic signs, hazardous road conditions). Take photos of the damage to your vehicle as well.
• Contact the Law Offices of Larry B. Litt, immediately. Contact our office to schedule a free hit-and-run car accident consultation. We can discuss your options for receiving compensation for your injuries.

What Evidence Can Help After a Hit-and-Run Car Crash?

Collecting evidence after a hit-and-run car crash is key to building your case.

Here’s what you should focus on:

• Photographs – Take clear pictures of your vehicle’s damage, the accident scene, skid marks, and any debris left behind.
• Witness Information – If anyone witnessed the accident, gather their contact information and ask for a brief description of what they saw.
• Vehicle Details – Write down everything you remember about the fleeing vehicle, such as its make, model, color, which direction the vehicle was headed, and any part of the license plate number you recall.
• Surveillance Footage – Check for cameras nearby, such as on traffic lights, businesses, or homes, that might have captured the car collision.

This evidence is vital for law enforcement to investigate the car accident and for your insurance company to process your personal injury claim. Your Maryland personal injury car accident attorney will help you collect the evidence and ensure the correct documentation of your car crash exists.

Why Would a Hit-and-Run Driver Choose to Leave the Scene of an Accident?

In just about every case, drivers are fleeing to avoid taking responsibility for the damage that they have caused. Sometimes they are also trying to avoid facing criminal charges and spending time in jail.

If the hit-and-run driver is located, then they will likely face criminal charges for leaving the scene of an accident. In the majority of hit-and-run accidents, the drivers leave the scene of a car accident because:

• They do not have car insurance.
• The were driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• They have outstanding warrants or other unresolved legal matters against them.
• They didn’t realize there had been a collision.
• They may have a suspended driver’s license or no license at all.
• An immature person, someone with a stolen vehicle, or already on the run from police.

Every hit-and-run accident is different, and drivers flee for all kinds of reasons. These are only some of the most common reasons that we have seen.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage for Hit-and-Run Accidents

In many cases, the hit-and-run driver is never found. However, you may still have options for recovering compensation. If you have been the victim of a hit-and-run accident in Baltimore, the state lets you file an Uninsured Motorist claim with your own insurance company for your vehicle damages, medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering.

To use this coverage, you will need to meet the following criteria:

• Report the hit-and-run accident within a reasonable timeframe after it happens to your insurance company.
• Obtain a police report from law enforcement.
• Have had actual contact with the other vehicle who caused the crash and injuries, or you had the car accident and hit something other then the hit-and-run vehicle, but that vehicle caused the accident. You must have a witness to the accident sign an affidavit that confirms this.
• You are not negligent in identifying the hit-and-run driver.

What Are Your Rights After a Hit-and-Run Car Accident?

In Maryland, hit-and-run car accident victims have the legal right to pursue compensation for their injuries and damages. While the at-fault driver may not always be identified, you are still entitled to seek remedies through your uninsured motorist coverage or other legal avenues.

Here’s what to keep in mind:

• Statute of limitations – In Maryland, you generally have three years from the date of the automobile accident to file a personal injury claim and two years for property damage. Acting quickly ensures evidence remains intact.
  Cooperation with law enforcement – Work closely with the police during their investigation. Providing detailed evidence can increase the chances of identifying the at-fault driver who fled the accident scene after the crash.

For complex cases, working with an experienced lawyer and legal team ensures your rights are protected and all possible avenues for compensation are explored.

Why Choose the Law Offices of Larry B. Litt for Your Hit-and-Run Accident?

Our Baltimore hit-and-run car accident lawyers have decades of experience handling car accident cases. We have access to extensive resources to investigate collisions, gather evidence, and track down eyewitnesses. We know the tactics used by insurance companies to deny claims or offer low settlements. They only care about saving money, and we will not allow them to take advantage of you. We will work hard to see that they treat you fairly and provide fair compensation for your losses.

We will complete each step of the legal process on your behalf so you can focus on recovering. We know you’ve been through a traumatic experience, and you should not have to deal with a hit-and-run car accident case alone. While you’re attending your doctor’s appointments and focusing on your recovery, we will create a strategy to reach a favorable outcome in your case. We will work meticulously to collect the evidence we need to prove that the other party was responsible for the car crash and that your uninsured motorist coverage should pay you full compensation.

Get the Help You Deserve from the Law Offices of Larry B. Litt

If you’ve been the victim of a hit-and-run car accident in Maryland, don’t let the insurance companies take advantage of your situation. At the Law Offices of Larry B. Litt, our legal team has recovered millions in settlements for our clients just like you. We genuinely care about our clients and will guide you through every step of the recovery process. Your rights matter to us; let our legal team help you protect them.

In cases of hit-and-run personal injury car accidents, we work with auto insurance companies to ensure that past, present and future medical expenses, as well as lost wages will be covered. With over 40 years of legal experience, we know how to fight for your rights and secure the compensation you deserve. If you or someone you love has been hurt in a hit-and-run car accident, call the Law Offices of Larry B. Litt at 443-844-1528. We are available 24/7/365. Contact us now to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.