Being involved in a car accident is traumatic. When the driver flees the accident scene, it can make matters worse. You do not have anyone to hold responsible for the car accident. This post by our Santa Fe personal injury attorneys discusses steps to protect your rights after a hit-and-run accident and the insurance claims you can file for compensation.
What Should I Do After a Hit and Run Accident in Santa Fe, NM?
The steps you take after a hit-and-run accident can help protect your right to compensation for damages. Your injuries may prevent you from taking these steps, but if possible, you should:
- Call 911 to report the accident. Tell the emergency operator the other driver has fled the scene and give them a description of the vehicle.
- Take photographs of the accident scene and make a video with your cell phone.
- Ask eyewitnesses and bystanders for their names and contact information.
- Tell the police officers as much as you can remember about the driver and the vehicle.
- Tell the officer the facts as you remember without admitting fault
- Seek medical treatment for your injuries immediately after the accident
Prompt medical treatment is essential. You need to document your injuries for a claim. Delays in medical care can give the insurance company a reason to challenge your claim.
Filing Insurance Claims for a Hit and Run Crash in New Mexico
New Mexico is a fault state for car accident claims. The state requires drivers to have a minimum of liability insurance. The minimum car insurance required in New Mexico is:
- $25,000 bodily injury to one person
- $50,000 bodily injury to two or more people per accident
- $10,000 property damage
Liability insurance compensates accident victims when the insured causes an accident. Therefore, if you can identify the hit-and-run driver, you can file a claim against their insurance coverage for economic and non-economic damages.
Even if you identify the hit-and-run driver, they may have no insurance coverage. In that case, you would need to sue the driver for damages. That could take a long time and may or may not result in damages.
Filing an Uninsured Motorist Claim for a Santa Fe Hit and Run Accident
If you have uninsured motorist (UM) insurance coverage, you may receive compensation from your insurance provider. UM coverage pays for damages if you are injured by a driver without insurance coverage. However, it also applies to accidents caused by hit-and-run drivers.
Even though you are filing a claim with your insurance company, do not assume the company will pay your claim without argument. You must prove that the other driver caused the accident, and you sustained injuries and damages because of the accident.
Your insurance company may blame you for causing the crash. It could challenge the severity of your injuries or the value of your damages.
A Santa Fe hit-and-run accident attorney can help you with your claim. Experienced injury attorneys understand the complicated nature of hit-and-run accident claims and how to build a case for insurance claims.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Santa Fe Personal Injury Attorneys
A hit-and-run accident can cause severe injuries and financial losses. Call Hunt Law Firm for a free case evaluation with a Santa Fe personal injury attorney. Our lawyers help you pursue all available claims to maximize the amount you receive for injuries and damages caused by a hit-and-run driver.