Earley Law Group Injury Lawyers
Hit and Run Accident
Need Hit and Run Accident Lawyer?Contact Information after Hit and Run: If you're involved in a hit and run accident with a motor vehicle, gather contact information from any witnesses and note down the license plate number of the fleeing vehicle. This information is crucial for the legal process. Fleeing the Scene and Car Insurance: A hit and run occurs when the driver leaves the scene of the accident without being identified. Massachusetts law requires drivers to have uninsured motorist coverage, a part of car insurance that can help compensate for medical bills and other damages in hit and run cases. File a Police Report and Claim Process: After a hit and run incident, it's essential to file a police report. Once you finish medical treatment, a demand package is sent to the insurance company, initiating a claim process. Negotiations follow, and if the claim doesn't settle, it may need to advance further. Collision Coverage and Lawsuit Possibility: Massachusetts law doesn't allow suing an insurance company for a hit and run claim. Instead, the claim must go through arbitration, a formal legal process where arguments are presented, and an arbitrator makes a final and binding decision. Understanding your coverage, including collision coverage, is vital in these situations.
Hit and run automobile accidents occur each and every day in Massachusetts. Nationally it is shocking just how often hit and run accidents occur. A hit and run accident is one in which the driver(s) that caused a car accident cannot be unidentified. If you are the victim of a “hit and run,” you may be concerned about how your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering will be compensated. Do not worry because you are not high and dry. Massachusetts insurance law has protections in place so that you can still recover damages for your accident. Boston hit and run accident lawyer Christopher Earley can help you.
As stated in previous posts, Massachusetts requires all drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage as part of their auto insurance coverage. The required minimum in Massachusetts is $20,000/$40,000. The $20,000 applies if only one person is injured, and the $40,000 applies when one more than one person is injured in the “hit and run” accident.
This uninsured motorist coverage applies to you when you are operating your own vehicle, to members of your household who are operating the vehicle, to people who have permission to operate your vehicle, and the passengers occupying the vehicle at the time of the accident. Please note uninsured motorist coverage is Massachusetts does not apply to damage to property or damage to your vehicle.
What is the claim process?
When you are finished with your medical treatment, a demand package is sent to the insurance company. They have roughly 30 days to make an offer. Negotiations will shortly thereafter begin. There will be a back and forth between the claimant (or claimant's attorney) and the insurance adjuster. If the claim does not settle, then it must be advanced further, beyond the claims stage.
Can I sue?
For nearly all car accident disputes in Massachusetts, you can bring a lawsuit in court. However, not all cases work this way however. Under Massachusetts law, you cannot sue an insurance company for a hit and run accident claim. If the claim does not settle, then the claim must be arbitrated. Arbitration is a formal and binding legal process whereby the parties (you and your attorney, and the attorney for the insurance company) will present their arguments to the arbitrator, who similar to a judge, will make a final and binding ruling. Under only very, very limited circumstances can an arbitrator's final decision be successful overturned on appeal.
Massachusetts Hit and Run Car Accident Law Firm
If you, a loved one, or a friend needs a Boston hit and run accident lawyer, contact us now for a completely free, no obligation consultation. We do not collect a legal fee unless your case settles, or wins at trial. That is called a contingency fee. Therefore, you have nothing to lose by hiring us as you carry no risk. Also, if you have not already checked out our free book called The Truth About Massachusetts Auto Accident, be sure to check it out now!
