Cyclists victimized in hit-and-run accidents can be left with major hospital bills and the feeling that they may never get justice. However, in many cases, injured riders can get help with their recovery costs, even if the driver is never identified.
A skilled attorney can help you secure money from an at-fault driver if you are hurt in a hit-and-run accident. In some cases, your attorney can also help you secure support from your own car insurance provider. Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Bakersfield offers a free, no-obligation case consultation to all bicycle accident victims. It’s a chance to figure out your best path to compensation.
Earning Support After a Bakersfield Hit-And-Run Accident
A hit-and-run can put any rider’s life in danger. The injuries can be devastating, and a driver who makes the heartbreaking decision to leave the victim and the scene only makes recovery that much more difficult.
Hit-and-run perpetrators leave victims waiting for medical care. They may also leave a cyclist down in the road, vulnerable to other approaching vehicles. Then, once emergency responders arrive and care is received, victims may be left to face their doctor bills and their missed time at work all alone.
Fortunately, some victims will be able to get help with their growing medical expenses, even if a hit-and-run motorist is never caught.
The outcome of a hit-and-run case may play out in a couple of ways:
The Driver is Apprehended. Hopefully, the driver who made a terrible decision has car insurance. The injured bicyclist would file a claim against the insurer as in any other accident. The suspect would likely face criminal proceedings, but the matter of your personal injury case is settled separately. A lawyer can negotiate with insurance adjusters and often win you much more in support than you could by handling your case yourself. You also get to focus on healing, while a skilled Bakersfield bicycle accident lawyer handles the entire frustrating claims process for you.
The Hit-And-Run Driver Escapes Justice. In so many tragic cases in Bakersfield and California, a hit-and-run driver is never identified and arrested. Fortunately, many injured riders can rely on help from their own car insurance provider. If victims have auto insurance, they could file a claim with their provider under their uninsured motorist coverage. This benefit comes with most car insurance policies and can only be taken off if the driver asks for it to be removed in writing. Uninsured motorist protection applies to hit-and-run accidents. The cyclist’s own insurer could provide money to help pay medical bills, cover lost paychecks, and cover other damages.
If the hit-and-run victim doesn’t have car insurance, it’s possible they are covered on a family member’s policy. In other cases, where a cyclist has no access to car insurance, the victim may have to rely on their health insurance to help them get by.
Do I Need a Lawyer If I’m Struck by a Hit-And-Run Driver?
If you’ve suffered a serious injury, it’s a good idea to go over your case with a skilled Bakersfield bicycle accident lawyer. If a hit-and-run driver is caught, you’ll want an attorney helping you hold that driver and the driver’s insurer fully responsible for what you’ve been through.
A skilled lawyer’s investigative skills can also sometimes help identify a hit-and-run driver. Having that driver in custody is the best outcome for you, especially when you are in need of financial support.
If you must file a claim with your own insurance provider, it’s a good idea to have a lawyer overseeing your interactions with an insurer. An uninsured motorist claim can be complex and needs to be backed with strong evidence to be successful. Your own agent can work to limit the support you receive and leave you without enough to pay all of your medical bills.
If you aren’t sure if you need a lawyer to get the most after a terrible accident, take advantage of a real case consultation with Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Bakersfield. It’s free, and there’s no obligation to you. And keep in mind, if you do need our help, you don’t have to worry about how you’ll pay a lawyer. We don’t earn anything unless we win your case. Then our fee comes out of the settlement check that an insurer is forced to write.