Hit and Run Car Accidents in Loveland
After you are involved in a hit and run collision, it can be difficult to know what to do next. When both drivers act responsibly after an accident, you can work something out with the other driver and their insurance company, but when you do not know the identity of the other driver, you may feel like you are stuck with bills for car repairs and medical expenses that someone else should pay.
A lawyer who regularly represents people hurt in hit and run car accidents in Loveland could help you. A skilled car accident attorney could investigate and determine the identity of the other driver, help you pursue appropriate avenues with your own insurance company, and advise and guide you through the process of recovering what you are owed for your injuries.
Definition of a Hit and Run Accident
Hit and run car accidents in Loveland occur when a driver leaves the scene of a car crash without complying with the requirements imposed by state law. Colorado Revised Statutes § 42-4-1601 requires all drivers involved in a collision that leads to an injury or damage to a vehicle to immediately stop at the scene. C. R. S. § 43-4-1603 requires the driver to provide necessary help, within reason, to other people who may have been injured in the crash. The driver is also required to provide their name, address, and vehicle registration number to others involved in the wreck and show their driver’s license if asked.
Failing to meet these requirements is a criminal offense and, if the injuries sustained in the accident are serious, can be a felony. Even if the driver who flees the scene is not convicted of a crime, they still may be financially and legally responsible for injuries and damage to the others in the wreck, if they were the cause of the collision.
What to Do After a Hit and Run
After a hit-and-run car accident in Loveland, all drivers involved should comply with the assistance and information requirements outlined above, because it is still fleeing the scene even if someone else does it first. Additionally, drivers should:
- Move off the roadway to the extent it is safe and possible
- Inform the police of the accident and mention another driver fled the scene
- Record any details about the driver who left the scene and the vehicle, and ask other witnesses to do the same
- See if anyone witnessed the crash and take photos of the vehicles and area around the collision if it is safe to do so
- Seek medical attention right away for any symptoms, because it is important to have a record tying any injury to the accident
Even if a lawsuit is not ultimately necessary, seeking legal help as soon as possible after an accident could preserve the rights and options available to an injured person.
Call a Loveland Attorney With Experience in Hit and Run Wrecks Today
When you are hurt in a car wreck caused by someone else’s reckless or negligent driving, you should receive compensation for your injuries. When the person at fault flees the scene, they especially deserve to be held responsible. A lawyer could help you obtain sufficient evidence to prove fault, negotiate with the insurance companies and other lawyers, and help you receive the settlement or judgment you deserve.
Schedule an appointment with an attorney experienced in handling hit and run car accidents in Loveland to learn more.
