Car accidents are bad, and whether it is a minor collision or a major accident, you will still be stressed. However, everything is quite complicated when the other driver escapes. The legal distinction between the hit and run car accidents and the normal car accident may also help you to find your way along the legal responsibility, rights and possibilities to receive compensation.
What are Differences?
In its essence, an ordinary car crash is a situation where two or more drivers are involved and they both stay at the place, give information and coordinate with police officers and the insurance companies. A hit and run, on the other hand, takes place when a driver flees the scene without giving any contact or insurance information and never even helps the injured people.
It’s actually against the law in most states including Alabama- even where the accident is minor. Hit and run crimes are considered more seriously by the legal system as compared to normal car accidents due to the fact that leaving the place of an accident poses a risk to injured people and prevents justice.
The Consequences of the At-fault Driver
In the case of normal car accidents, a traffic ticket or a civil case against the offending driver applies. But drivers who commit hit and run are subject to criminal charges which may include a fine and suspension of their license as well as felony charges and a jail term, in case there was a person hurt or killed.
Under such circumstances, the desire to flee the scene can largely adjust the legal consequences imposed on the fleeing driver in both criminal court and in the tort claim of damages.
Difficulties to the Victim
Those who become victims in common traffic accidents usually choose to claim either the insurance of the other car or that of their insurance, according to fault and coverage. With both parties at hand, information required becomes easier to get in the form of insurance details, license plates, and statements.
Hit and run car accidents are, however, different as far as the victim is left in the darkness. In the absence of the identity of the other driver, it is more complicated to gain compensation. You can even be left to your own insurance cover, especially when you have an Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/ UIM) cover. At that, insurance firms can either refuse to agree on the claim or present lower settlements, so that it is essential to attract a law firm.
The Significance of Evidence
In typical car wrecks, the liability is determined through police reports, photographs and witness statements. These factors are more significant, in cases of hit and run. CCTV, dashboard cameras and quick reporting to the police are efficient ways to determine the escaping driver.
Even the hit and run cases are unsolved without clear evidence and this presents the burden on the victim to prove his/her case to the insurance companies and to the court as well.
Why Legal Assistance is More Versatile in Hit and Runs
Although hiring a lawyer is helpful in any car accident, it can be a breakthrough in hit and run situations. The assistance of a lawyer can be offered:
- See whether the running driver can be identified
- Cooperation with police officers
- Handle complicated insurance problems
- Get the most money out of it
The legal responsibilities and risks stemming out of the incidences are the main distinction between regular car accidents and Hit and Run Car Accidents. Once a driver leaves the scene, this is not just a criminal problem but also it creates a problem in recovering and justice to the victim. This is why it is important to know your rights as well as finding some professional assistance that can be helpful in making someone liable and receiving the compensation you need.
