Experienced Lawyers Representing Your Rights
When you are involved in an accident, you are required by law to stay at the scene. Unfortunately, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) reports there are thousands of accidents every year where people flee the scene after the accident. Drivers who do not stop can face very serious consequences from the law when they are caught. You must provide police with all of your contact information along with your VIN number and driver’s license number. Drivers who flee the scene could face up to a Class 5 felony if there were injuries or if the property damage exceeds $1,000.
Epperly & Follis, P.C. is committed to helping citizens involved in hit-and-run collisions with the process of investigating the accident and getting compensated for their damages and injuries. Our firm will talk to the insurance companies and the police on your behalf to try to track down the individual responsible for your injuries. We have found your injuries are more severe when you are a bicyclist, motorcyclist, or pedestrian because there is nothing to shield your body in these accidents.
Why Drivers Might Leave the Scene of An Accident
In many instances, the driver leaves the scene of the crash because they do not have any auto insurance.
There are a number of other reasons a driver might leave the scene of an accident. Some drivers fear the police and what could happen if they have an accident on their record. Others are wanted by the police for other crimes, while there are some people driving without a license. Someone who is under the influence or has been drinking might not pull over.
In the state of Virginia, drivers pay a penalty of $500, known as an uninsured motorist fee, if they do not have insurance. It is estimated roughly 10% of Virginians do not have auto insurance. This fee does not provide any level of insurance for property damage or medical bills if they are in an accident. If the driver does not have any money, they may simply flee the scene.
Coverage Under Uninsured Motorist Coverage
If you are involved in a hit and run accident you may think you are out of luck and can not recover for your damages and injuries. If you have your own auto insurance policy or live with a relative who has an auto insurance policy you are covered by the uninsured motorist coverage of those policies. Many insurance companies do not advise you of this and because of this many claims that could be made are not made. This is why it is important for someone who is involved in an accident to contact an attorney.
The attorneys at Epperly & Follis use to work for insurance companies and thus they are experienced and knowledgeable about how to present your uninsured motorist claim and how to maximize your financial recovery.
One of the common misconceptions from drivers is that an insurance company raises your insurance rates when you have to file a claim against your insurance. This is not necessarily true., Underwriters at insurance companies make the decisions about when rates get raised. Typically rates are raised because of at fault accidents. If you make a claim under your uninsured motorist coverage, your rates should not go up.
Fighting For Your Rights
If you have been involved in a hit-and-run accident, the attorneys at Epperly & Follis, P.C. have the experience to conduct a thorough investigation and make sure your rights are protected. Our attorneys will gather information from witnesses, search for surveillance footage of the accident, and work with law enforcement officials to find the driver of the other car.
If the other driver cannot be found, our lawyers will help in the negotiations with your insurance company to ensure you receive the most favorable outcome for your claim. Your rights will truly be protected as written in your automobile insurance policy.
Contact Epperly & Follis, P.C. today to learn how we can represent your rights and get the compensation you deserve.