If you are involved in a hit-and-run accident, you need to make “reasonable efforts” to identify the driver of the car that hit you. You also need to make reasonable efforts to identify the owner of the other vehicle. Generally speaking, “reasonable efforts” include contacting law enforcement and notifying them of the accident. Additionally, you cannot wait long before reporting the hit-and-run auto accident to your insurance company. If you delay, the insurance company will be skeptical about your claim; they might be more likely to fight your claim in these cases.
Unfortunately, it might not be possible for you to recover damages for property damages in a hit-and-run accident. That’s because most insurance companies feel that they need some kind of protection against fraudulent hit-and-run accident claims. You might also be able to file a claim for lost wages if you are forced to miss time from work because of your auto accident injuries.
In some hit-and-run accidents, you might have the option to file a personal injury claim against parties other than the insurance company. For example, if your accident was caused by a road hazard, the local municipality can potentially be held liable for the accident and your injuries. Additionally, if your hit-and-run accident was caused by a defective auto part, you may be able to sue the manufacturer of the auto part. An attorney can help you determine whether it is in your best interests to file a product liability claim.
It is never easy to get compensation from an insurance company for auto accident injuries. However, it is even more difficult to get compensated when the claim involves a hit-and-run accident. Some hit-and-run accidents don’t actually involve a collision with another vehicle; it’s possible that you were forced off the road by another car. In these cases, the insurance company could be reluctant to compensate you for your injuries. That’s why you need to contact an attorney immediately.
Cohen & Riechelson is a highly respected law firm with a rich tradition in New Jersey. Our attorneys have more than 40 years of experience handling auto accident claims in Mercer County, New Jersey, including East Windsor, Trenton, Princeton, and Pennington. We understand the nuances of car accident laws in New Jersey, which gives us a major advantage when we represent you. We also have access to resources that other law firms don’t have. For example, we can use accident reconstruction experts to demonstrate exactly what caused your accident and prove that another vehicle was involved.
If you have been involved in a hit-and-run accident in New Jersey, call Cohen & Riechelson today. You can call us at (215) 337-4915, you can also fill out the online contact form to schedule a no-obligation meeting at our offices in Hamilton or Pennington, NJ.