Hit-and-Run Accident Attorney in Dallas
Were you involved in a hit-and-run accident in Dallas? Watching the other driver flee the scene can be devastating, especially if you’ve been severely injured.
While seeking compensation for your injuries and financial losses after a hit-and-run crash can be challenging, it is not impossible. With the help of an experienced Dallas hit-and-run accident lawyer, you could potentially locate and hold the at-fault driver accountable and seek compensation from your own insurance policy, depending on the circumstances.
We have some of the Best Hit And Run Accident Lawyers in Dallas
At The Wilhite Law Firm, we provide compassionate, client-focused representation to people during the most challenging and vulnerable times in their lives. We know how frustrating recovering from injuries can be when you don’t know the identity of the person whose negligence harmed you. We stand ready to fight on your behalf to pursue the maximum compensation possible for you and stand up to the insurance companies for the benefits you need and deserve. Our Dallas car accident lawyer can help.
If you have been the victim of a hit-and-run accident in Dallas, don’t assume that you have no options for recovering compensation. Contact The Wilhite Law Firm today for a free consultation to discuss your legal rights with a knowledgeable Dallas hit-and-run accident attorney.
What You Need to Know About Pursuing Compensation after a Hit-and-Run Accident
Following a hit-and-run accident, you may have a couple of options for pursuing compensation for injuries and vehicle damage that you suffered in the accident:
- From the driver – If you can ultimately locate the at-fault driver who fled the crash scene, you may be entitled to pursue a claim for compensation against that driver and their auto insurance provider.
- From your own insurance – If you cannot identify and locate the driver who hit you and ran from the scene, you may still have an option for recovering compensation from your own auto insurance coverage.
First, you may be able to recover money for your medical bills and lost wages from missed work if you have personal injury protection (PIP) coverage in your auto policy. Under Texas law, all auto insurance providers must include PIP coverage. A policyholder who does not want PIP coverage must affirmatively waive that coverage in writing.
While PIP coverage can provide partial reimbursement of your medical expenses and lost wages, you may be entitled to recover additional compensation for those expenses and personal losses that you have suffered, such as pain and suffering and lost quality of life. If you have purchased uninsured motorist (UM) coverage for your auto policy, you can file a claim under that coverage after a hit-and-run accident where the at-fault driver cannot be located.
A hit-and-run driver would be treated as an uninsured driver, entitling you to file a claim under your UM coverage. With UM coverage, your insurance company steps into the shoes of the hit-and-run driver. A hit and run accident lawyer can help answer your questions.
How a Dallas Hit-and-Run Lawyer Can Help You
Pursuing compensation after a hit-and-run accident can be a complex task because you are trying to identify and track down the driver who hit you. A Dallas hit-and-run lawyer from The Wilhite Law Firm can help take the burdens and stress off your shoulders by handling all the details of your case, including:
- Thoroughly investigating the crash to recover the evidence needed to hopefully find the hit-and-run driver and prove that driver caused the accident
- Going over your legal rights and options for seeking financial compensation, including PIP and UM coverage
- Documenting your injuries and losses to make sure we are pursuing maximum compensation on your behalf
- Working with accident reconstruction, medical, and financial experts as needed to help us persuasively argue your case
- Collaborating with law enforcement and investigators to try to locate the driver who hit you and fled the scene
- Filing insurance claims on your behalf and aggressively negotiating for a fair and full settlement
- Going to court and trial if needed to fight to pursue the financial recovery you need and deserve
What Compensation Can You Recover for Your Hit-and-Run Accident Injury in Dallas?
In a hit-and-run accident claim, you may be entitled to recover compensation for expenses and losses that you incurred due to the accident, such as:
- Medical expenses, including ER and hospital bills, doctor’s appointments, physical and occupational therapy, prescriptions, and medical and mobility equipment
- Long-term care expenses for permanent disabilities that substantially impact your daily living
- Past, ongoing, and future losses of income and employment benefits when you cannot work due to your injuries and disabilities
- Pain and suffering
- Reduced enjoyment and quality of life because of disabilities that interfere with daily activities and scarring and disfigurement that may cause you embarrassment
How Long Do You Have to File a Hit-and-Run Accident Lawsuit in Texas?
Under Texas’s statute of limitations, you typically have two years from the date of a hit-and-run accident to file a lawsuit against the fleeing driver to recover compensation. However, if you are instead pursuing compensation under the uninsured motorist coverage in your auto policy, and your insurer denies your claim, you may have up to four years to file suit against your insurer.
If you fail to file your suit until after the statute of limitations has expired on your claim, you run the risk that the trial court will ultimately dismiss your case for being untimely. If the court dismisses your case, you may lose the right to pursue financial recovery for your injuries and losses through the court system.
How to Protect Your Rights after a Hit-and-Run Accident
After being involved in a hit-and-run accident, you need to take the following steps to help protect your rights and pursue your legal options for compensation. These steps include:
- Take photos and video of the crash scene, including damage to your vehicle, any visible injuries you suffered, any skid marks and debris on the road, traffic controls at the scene, and weather, lighting, road, and traffic conditions.
- Speak to any eyewitnesses who may have seen the fleeing vehicle. Also, note any surveillance and traffic cameras that may have recorded the crash and the fleeing vehicle.
- Seek medical attention as soon as possible to have your injuries promptly diagnosed by a physician. Follow your doctor’s treatment instructions and recommendations.
- Keep copies of all related expenses, including bills, invoices, receipts, and pay stubs.
- Consult with a hit-and-run accident lawyer in Dallas to discuss the next steps to take in pursuing your rights.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer in Dallas?
If you face financial struggles after being injured in a hit-and-run accident, spending more money on an attorney to help you with your legal claim may be the last thing you want to do. For that reason, the Dallas hit-and-run accident attorneys of The Wilhite Law Firm represent clients on a contingency basis.
That means you do not need to pay anything upfront to hire us for your case. We are paid only when we secure compensation for you, either in a negotiated settlement or by winning your case in court. You have no financial risk when pursuing the compensation you need and deserve. We have some of the We have some of the best personal injury lawyers in Dallas.
What’s the Difference Between a Criminal Case and a Civil Case Against a Driver Who Fled the Scene?
While a hit-and-run accident may result in criminal charges against the fleeing driver and a civil case filed by those injured in the accident, the two cases are separate and have several significant differences.
The state files a criminal case against the fleeing driver for a hit-and-run accident. The purpose of a criminal case is not to provide compensation and accountability to the accident victims, but to pursue justice on behalf of the state and its people. The state must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the driver was involved in an accident and fled the scene. If convicted, the fleeing driver may be subject to penalties such as jail time and fines.
On the other hand, the people harmed in the accident can bring a civil case. In a civil case, injured victims will attempt to recover financial compensation from the fleeing driver for the victims’ losses. Unlike a criminal case, injured victims pursuing a civil case only need to prove that it was more likely than not that the fleeing driver caused the crash and the victims’ injuries and losses.
Because the civil and criminal cases are separate matters, it is possible to recover compensation through a civil claim even if the at-fault driver is not convicted on charges related to the crash.
Talk to a Dallas Hit-and-Run Accident Attorney Today
After you have been injured in a hit-and-run accident in Dallas, you need experienced legal representation on your side. Reach out to The Wilhite Law Firm today for a free, no-obligation consultation to talk to a Dallas hit-and-run accident attorney right away.
