After a sharp decline during the pandemic shutdown, hit-and-run crashes are once again on the rise in Colorado. Denver alone has had 3,541 hit-and-run accident reports filed in the first seven months of 2021, an average of 505 per month — slightly more than 16 a day.
Behind those disturbing numbers are a lot of accident victims who’ve been left in the lurch by irresponsible drivers. Many hit-and-run drivers are intoxicated, speeding and (as their behavior demonstrates) reckless, so the likelihood is greater of sustaining serious injuries from the encounter — including fractures, lacerations, traumatic brain injury, and concussions. With no one around to exchange information or render aid (as required by law), those who’ve been in a crash with a hit-and-run driver are left to pick up the pieces by themselves. Here are a few tips that can help guide you through what can be a challenging time.
Steps To Take After The Accident
Seek medical care. Your first priority should be to call 911 and check for injuries to yourself or others in your vehicle. Many people decline to get checked out by paramedics after an accident, insisting they’re fine or were just “shook up.” But certain injuries from a collision, such as a head injury or whiplash, may not be apparent right away. Even if you turn down an ambulance trip, it makes sense to go see a doctor — preferably that same day — to receive proper care.
Document and report the accident. After checking for injuries, and if necessary moving your vehicle to a location away from dangerous traffic, it’s time to get the police involved. The report you file with them is a crucial aid to their investigation and may help them in locating the driver who left the scene. If you can, you should do some evidence-gathering of your own: writing down everything you remember about the hit-and-run vehicle and its driver, gathering contact information of witnesses before they leave the scene, and taking photos of the damage involved and the scene surrounding the accident.
Check your coverage. When you pursue compensation from your insurance company, you may face delays caused by their investigation to find the at-fault driver. You should speak with your agent to make sure you understand what your policy covers; it’s helpful if you have uninsured motorist coverage, which provides protection for hit-and-run incidents and other situations in which the at-fault driver has little or no insurance. And yes, it covers hit-and-run damage to your parked vehicle, too.
Contact an experienced hit-and-run victim attorney. Pursuing a hit-and-run case can be complicated. Your claim may be best handled by an experienced hit-and-run accident attorney and a legal team with appropriate resources. A knowledgeable attorney can walk you through the questions and issues arising from the incident, help you evaluate the situation and your options, and help you recover the compensation you deserve for your damages.
THE HIT-AND-RUN VICTIM ATTORNEYS AT FDAZAR
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries or financial loss as a result of a hit-and-run incident, you may be entitled to compensation. Over the past 30 years, Franklin D. Azar & Associates has represented victims in a wide array of complicated and serious personal injury and wrongful death cases arising from hit-and-run crashes. Our proven track record and expertise have allowed us to grow into the largest personal-injury law firm in Colorado, with offices in Denver, Aurora, Thornton, Fort Collins, Greeley, Grand Junction, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo. If you’ve been injured in a bus, car, truck, or motorcycle accident, call the attorneys at FDAzar day or night at 720-372-2824 or contact us here for a free consultation and no-obligation evaluation of your case.
