Hit and Run Accident Lawyer in Nassau County

Nassau County Hit and Run Accident Lawyer

Hit-and-run crashes are on the rise in NYC, with the number increasing by nearly 25 percent in recent years. These accidents are especially taxing for injury victims who can sustain expensive injuries to treat and have no information about the at-fault driver.

If you suffered an injury in a hit-and-run accident in New York, contact The Tadchiev Law Firm, P.C. as soon as possible. Hit-and-run collisions are legally complex, and you need an accomplished and experienced attorney to manage a claim for you. Your choice of attorney can mean the difference between recovering compensation for your injuries and being hit with large medical bills and other costs.

Why Choose The Tadchiev Law Firm, P.C. for Your Hit-and-Run Accident Claim?

The attorneys at The Tadchiev Law Firm, P.C. have years of experience working with hit-and-run accident victims in Nassau County. We have built a reputation as fierce advocates for the injured who will not back down when it comes to protecting clients. We understand that one-size-fits-all approaches to accident claims rarely work and instead provide a personalized legal experience. Our aggressive approach to pursuing liable parties has earned our firm awards and professional recognition.

We believe the law exists to protect the vulnerable and hold those who harm them accountable. To that end, we are tireless in our pursuit of justice and will use our knowledge, experience, and resources to resolve your case satisfactorily.

How Will Our Hit-and-Run Accident Attorneys Help with Your Case?

Hit-and-run accidents bring unique challenges over typical car wrecks because the at-fault driver is unknown, making securing compensation more difficult. New York has no-fault automobile insurance laws to account for circumstances like this, but your insurance alone may not be enough to cover your losses.

A hit-and-run accident lawyer can find additional avenues to recover more compensation for your injuries. We can also investigate your case and try to identify the driver to hold them responsible. When filing a claim, our attorneys will negotiate on your behalf and protect you from predatory insurance tactics that attempt to cheapen your claim. Overall, we will take the stress and burden off your shoulders while managing all the legal aspects so you don’t have to worry about anything but healing from your injuries.

What to Do After a Hit-and-Run Accident in Nassau County

A hit-and-run accident is an extremely distressing experience. A typical auto accident is bad enough, but the other driver fleeing can leave you panicked and at a loss for what to do. However, it is essential to take proactive steps to maximize your chances of recovering as much compensation as possible. After a hit-and-run, you should:

Contact law enforcement – Call the police and request emergency medical assistance if required. Law enforcement will arrive and fill out a report concerning the events of the collision. Try to remember anything you can about the vehicle that hit you, such as the color, make and model, license plate number, and other identifying features. If you were injured, a medical first responder can provide on-scene treatment and transport you to a hospital, if needed.
Document the scene – If you can, start documenting as much evidence about the scene as possible. Take photos and video recordings, gather eyewitness contact information, and obtain any other evidence you can find. Ideally, you can use this evidence to identify the other driver later. At the very least, you will need to document the accident scene when filing an insurance claim.
Get medical attention – You should see a doctor even if you feel fine. Insurance companies usually won’t take claims seriously unless you provide exhaustive medical documentation about your injuries. Don’t delay seeing a doctor, or it could complicate your claim.
Contact a personal injury attorney – Time is important in a hit-and-run accident claim. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to identify the driver and recover the compensation you deserve. A hit-and-run car accident lawyer can start investigating and building your claim to make it as strong as possible.

Whose Insurance Covers a Hit-and-Run Accident?

There are two general options for insurance coverage after a hit-and-run collision in which the driver remains unidentified:

Personal injury protection (PIP) coverage – New York is a no-fault state for motor vehicle accidents. No matter what kind of crash you are in, you will first file a claim with your PIP coverage. New York requires all drivers to carry a minimum of $50,000 of PIP coverage that will pay for medical bills and lost income. However, PIP coverage will not pay for noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering or loss of enjoyment of life.
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage – The other option is uninsured motorist coverage. UM coverage is mandatory for all drivers in New York. It will pay for the insured’s bodily injuries when the other driver doesn’t have insurance or is unidentified.

It is typically standard to file a claim through both PIP and uninsured motorist coverage, as PIP is often not enough to pay for the serious kinds of injuries hit-and-run accidents have the potential to cause. A personal injury attorney can help you file both claims at the same time.

If the police can find the other driver, you may be able to file a claim with their insurance company or sue them directly for your injuries and losses. Identifying and suing the at-fault driver is the ideal option for recovering compensation after a hit-and-run. However, suing the at-fault hit-and-run driver depends on whether law enforcement can locate them and whether you meet certain requirements, so it isn’t always possible.

What Damages Are Available for a Hit-and-Run Accident?

The exact type of compensation available after a hit-and-run car accident depends on whether you can identify the driver and what kind of insurance policy you run your claim through. If you only file a claim through your PIP coverage, you can recover compensation for your economic losses, including:

Medical bills – PIP coverage will pay for the cost of your emergency medical expenses and continuing medical costs up to your policy limits. Your medical costs may include hospital bills, treatments, diagnostics, psychiatric care, prescriptions, physical therapy, and rehabilitation.
Lost wages – PIP will cover 80 percent of your average weekly earnings up to $2,000 a month for three years.
Accident-related expenses – You can receive up to $25 a day for a year after the collision to cover any other reasonably needed costs, such as help with housework or transportation to medical appointments.
Death benefit – When someone dies in a hit-and-run accident, PIP coverage can provide $2,000 to their estate.

If you use your uninsured motorist coverage, it should cover the minimum bodily injury limits of liability insurance in New York, which are:

$25,000 for bodily injury not resulting in death or $50,000 for any injury resulting in death per person
$50,000 for bodily injury not resulting in death or $100,000 for any injuries resulting in death per accident

You have more options if you identify the at-fault driver. If you exhaust your PIP coverage or your injury qualifies as a “serious injury” under New York law, you can pursue a personal injury claim against the driver. Serious injuries include:

Dismemberment
Significant disfigurement
Bone fracture
Loss of a fetus
Permanent loss of the use of a bodily organ, member, function, or system
Severe permanent limitations in the use of a bodily organ or member
Significant limitations in the use of a bodily system or function
Not being able to perform your usual activities for at least 90 days during the 180 days immediately following the crash
Death

With a personal injury lawsuit, you could seek compensation for any additional economic expenses exceeding your PIP coverage limit. You may be able to secure money for noneconomic damages as well, including:

Pain and suffering – New York recognizes the right of injury victims to recover damages for the physical pain and suffering they endured.
Emotional distress – Many hit-and-run accident victims suffer emotionally from the traumatic experience and resulting injuries, which compensation can cover.
Loss of enjoyment – A settlement can include money to reflect a lower quality of life if you can no longer engage in activities you enjoy because of your condition.
Property damage – You could also recover money to fix or replace your car.

A knowledgeable personal injury attorney can determine your options for securing financial recovery after a hit-and-run accident and pursue the full amount you deserve.

Contact Our Experienced Car Accident Attorneys in Nassau County for Help

android-icon-72x72 Hit-and-run accidents are much more legally complex than typical auto collisions. You need an experienced attorney who can navigate New York liability laws to find a solution. The Tadchiev Law Firm, P.C. dedicates itself to protecting injury victims’ rights and well-being, and we want to help you next. It is essential you find the right representation to maximize your amount of recoverable damages.

Give our auto accident attorneys in Nassau County a call or send us a message online for a free case consultation. We work on a contingency basis, meaning you only pay if we secure compensation for you, so you have nothing to lose by scheduling a meeting.