Any car accident can leave you shaken up and frustrated. A serious accident caused by a hit-and-run driver can leave you with serious injuries and questions about where to turn for help.
If you were injured by a driver who fled the scene to avoid responsibility, you may be worried about how to afford your medical bills and the other expenses you’ve incurred through no fault of your own.
You still may have avenues for recovering compensation, even if the driver who crashed into you cannot be located. The experienced Paducah personal injury lawyers at Morgan, Collins, Yeast, and Salyer can help you evaluate your options during a free consultation. Contact our office today for a free initial case review with a Paducah hit-and-run accident lawyer.
What Are Hit-and-Run Accidents?
In the aftermath of an accident, every driver involved has a legal obligation to stop at the scene, render aid as needed, and exchange contact and insurance information. When a driver chooses to flee the scene, the driver may be charged with unlawfully leaving the scene of an accident – a criminal offense in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Unfortunately, hit-and-run accidents occur frequently in Kentucky and throughout the nation. The following statistics from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety illustrate how big a problem they are:
- There were an estimated 737,100 hit-and-run crashes nationwide in a recent year.
- Nearly 2,000 fatal hit-and-run accidents resulted in 2,049 fatalities, the highest-ever number on record in the U.S.
- More than 70 percent of the victims of hit-and-run crashes were cyclists and pedestrians.
- Over the past decade, the rate of hit-and-runs has risen by roughly 7.2 percent each year.
Why Do Hit-and-Run Accidents Happen?
Fleeing the scene of a traffic collision is illegal, yet some drivers do it anyway. In many cases, drivers flee because they fear the consequences of facing up to an accident.
The common reasons that a driver might leave the scene of an accident include:
- Lack of adequate insurance – Kentucky drivers are required to carry auto liability insurance. Liability insurance covers the costs of injuries or damage to others caused by the insured policyholder. However, some drivers drive uninsured in violation of the law and flee from accidents to avoid civil and criminal consequences.
- Outstanding warrants – A driver who has outstanding warrants might flee the scene of an accident to avoid having to interact with responding law enforcement officers.
- Fear of other legal repercussions – Some drivers may run to avoid legal consequences, such as being charged for driving while intoxicated, transporting illicit drugs, driving with a suspended license, or violating parole.
- Fear of losing employment – If a driver is operating a company vehicle when they cause a crash, they may leave the scene so that their employer doesn’t find out about the accident.
- Fight or flight responses – In some cases, people just panic. When a crash occurs, a driver might speed away because they feel too afraid or shocked to cope.
Hit-and-Run Laws in Kentucky
Under Kentucky law, drivers have certain obligations when involved in traffic accidents resulting in property damage, injury, or death. Specifically, drivers in Paducah and elsewhere in Kentucky must:
- Offer assistance and request an ambulance for anyone who was injured in the crash
- Contact the police if the accident caused any injury or vehicle damage exceeding $500
- Remain at the scene of the accident or as close as practical until the police arrive
- Move the damaged vehicles to the road shoulder so they don’t block the traffic flow if the collision does not involve injuries
- Get the names, driver’s license numbers, vehicle registration, and insurance information of those who were involved in the crash
- If the accident involves a parked car and the owner cannot be located, leave behind written contact and insurance details and report the crash to the police.
Those who fail to comply and unlawfully leave the scene of an accident may face criminal penalties if apprehended, including loss of driving privileges, steep fines, demerit points, and even jail time.
Who Pays for My Losses After a Hit-and-Run Accident?
All motorists in Kentucky are required to carry uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. If the other driver flees from the accident and cannot be located, your insurance carrier will treat the hit-and-run accident like a crash with an uninsured motorist.
You would file a claim with your UM insurance policy for bodily injuries sustained by you or your passengers caused by the hit-and-run driver. Your policy should cover your medical expenses and those of your passengers up to the limits of the policy.
Depending on the circumstances, you could pursue compensation from any of the following parties for your injuries and related losses after a hit-and-run in Paducah:
- The driver who hit you, if the driver can be located
- Another road user, if their actions contributed to the accident in some way
- Your health insurance company, if you exhaust all other sources of coverage for your crash-related medical expenses
- Workers’ compensation, if you were driving a company vehicle or traveling for work-related reasons when the accident occurred
What Should I Do After a Hit and Run Accident in Paducah?
A crash involving a hit-and-run driver can be frightening and stressful. However, you can take steps to protect your rights and establish a solid foundation to seek compensation. You should:
- Gather evidence from the crash scene, including photos of the area, statements from eyewitnesses, and any footage from nearby traffic or security cameras
- Seek prompt medical attention to ensure your injuries are diagnosed, treated, and listed in your medical records
- Follow your doctor’s care plan to promote the healing process and demonstrate that you are taking your recovery seriously
- Keep medical bills, bank records, pay stubs, repair estimates, and other documentation of your crash-related injuries, expenses, and losses
- Watch what you say to the insurance company or post online while your injury claim is pending. Anything you say could be used against you
- Contact a knowledgeable hit-and-run accident lawyer in Paducah, KY
Contact a Paducah Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer
If you’ve been injured by a hit-and-run driver, contact Morgan, Collins, Yeast, and Salyer immediately. We offer free consultations. Learn about your options for pursuing compensation by speaking with a Paducah hit-and-run accident lawyer. Our attorneys apply Kentucky Courage to fight for justice for injured Kentuckians after hit-and-run collisions. Contact us today.
