Chicago Hit and Run Accident Attorney
Drivers in Illinois are required to stop and remain at the scene when they are involved in a car accident. Unfortunately, people often speed away before the police arrive to dodge a criminal conviction or escape financial responsibility for the injuries they cause. Since car accident victims in Chicago usually recover compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering from the at-fault driver’s insurance company, hit-and-run accident victims are left to shoulder the financial burdens of the crash. Fortunately, if the driver who caused your crash left the scene, you have legal options. The hit-and-run accident attorneys at Lloyd Miller Law can help you file a claim against your own uninsured motorist policy, sue a third party who contributed to your crash, or identify other sources of recovery.
For help recovering damages in Illinois, call the hit-and-run accident attorneys at Lloyd Miller Law today.
Call: 773-838-8100
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Recovering Compensation After a Hit-and-Run Accident
Knowing what to do after a car accident can improve your prognosis and your chances of recovering compensation after a hit-and-run. First, you should stop the car and pull out of high traffic areas if possible. Check yourself and your passengers for injuries, and render aid if you are able. Call 911 to report the accident to the police and get medical help on the way as soon as you can.
Once the police are on en route, make sure to document the scene of the accident and take down witness information. As soon as your condition is stable, hire a hit-and-run accident lawyer to help you file a claim and recover damages. Knowing when to hire a car accident injury lawyer is crucial to the success of your claim. Contacting an attorney before speaking with your insurance company helps to ensure that your rights are protected, and your accident claim is airtight.
Legal Options for Chicago Hit-and-Run Accident Victims
A hit-and-run accident attorney at Lloyd Miller Law can help you explore your legal options after a crash. Our lawyers will identify all parties who contributed to the crash and avenues of recovery. Your car accident attorney will guide you through the claims process and keep you informed as your case progresses, so you can make the right decisions when pursuing compensation for your losses.
Generally, accident victims have two legal options to recover damages after a hit-and-run. They are:
- Bringing an accident claim against the at-fault driver once he or she is located. If the police are successful in tracking down the driver responsible for the hit-and-run accident, victims can proceed with a traditional car accident claim.
- Filing an uninsured motorist accident claim against the victim’s own insurance. If the at-fault driver can not be located, the accident victim can file a claim with his or her own insurance provider. In Illinois, coverage for uninsured motorist accidents is a standard requirement for car insurance plans.
How a Hit-and-Run Accident Attorney Helps Your Case
Studies reveal that people who hire accident lawyers to handle their injury cases recover up to three times more than people who handle their cases on their own. A hit-and-run accident attorney can improve your chances of winning your case in a number of ways. At Lloyd Miller Law, we will help you with:
Understanding Hit-and-Run Accident Laws in Illinois
When an at-fault driver flees the scene of a motor vehicle crash, the wreck is classified as a hit-and-run accident. Illinois law requires persons involved in car accidents to remain on the scene. Exceptions apply only if victims leave to seek medical attention. When a car accident causes injuries to a person, or results in over $1500 in damages, those involved are required to file a report. Drivers who leave the scene of an injury or fatality accident in Illinois can be charged with a felony.
Calculating Compensation in a Hit-and-Run Accident Lawsuit
Victims can recover economic and non-economic damages in a hit-and-run accident claim. Economic damages compensate a victim for monetary expenses that result from the accident. These include medical bills and lost wages. Non-economic damages compensate a victim for other “costs” from the accident, such as pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and disability or disfigurement. In cases where the at-fault driver is found, punitive damages may be recoverable.
Figuring Out Who to Sue for a Hit-and-Run Accident
Accident victims often recover damages from their own insurance coverage when the at-fault driver flees the scene. However, if the at-fault driver is located by police, victims have a right to file a claim against the driver and his or her insurance company. The at-fault driver’s insurance company would pay for economic and non-economic damages if the claim is successful. If the court awards punitive damages in a lawsuit, the at-fault driver will be required to pay these out of pocket.
Causes of Hit-and-Run Accidents in Chicago
Although fleeing the scene of an accident is a criminal act in Illinois, it’s not uncommon for at-fault drivers to speed away from injury or fatality crashes. In most cases, our hit-and-run accident lawyers see drivers leave the scene of accidents because they panic or have something to hide.
Common reasons drivers hit-and-run in Chicago include:
- At-fault drivers may be intoxicated and fear facing criminal DUI charges for drunk driving accidents .
- An at-fault driver may have practiced negligent driving behaviors that lead to the accident, such as speeding, distracted driving, fatigued driving, or driving recklessly.
- The fleeing driver may have caused the accident by failing to yield, running a red light or stop sign, or acting aggressively in a road rage incident.
- The at-fault driver may not have insurance coverage or a valid driver’s license.
- The at-fault driver may be an undocumented immigrant.
If you were the victim of a hit-and-run accident, you need an experienced attorney to win your case. The hit-and-run car accident attorneys at Lloyd Miller Law understand the anatomy of a crash investigation. We can help you recover damages through an uninsured motorist claim with your insurance company.
“John and Kurt were very helpful, informative and were on top of everything with my case! They got back to me as soon as possible whenever I had questions. They helped me to understand everything that was going on. They did everything as quickly as they could and they are very professional! If there were six stars to rate they’d get SIX! Thanks to their team who made sure I got what I deserved!”
FAQs About Hit-and-Run Accidents in Chicago
Is a hit-and-run accident covered by insurance in Illinois?
In a hit-and-run accident, victims may be able to recover damages by filing a claim with the insurance company against their own uninsured motorist policy. In Illinois, uninsured motorist coverage comes standard with car insurance policies. This coverage protects victims when the at-fault driver in a crash flees the scene and cannot be found, or fails to maintain insurance coverage.
How long do I have to file a hit-and-run accident claim in Chicago?
There is a two-year statute of limitations for filing a civil lawsuit against a hit-and-run driver. There is also a two-year time limit for filing an uninsured motorist claim.
Can I file a hit-and-run accident claim as a pedestrian?
Even if you weren’t in a car when you became a victim of a hit-and-run accident, you can still file a claim to cover the cost of your injuries. In a traditional pedestrian accident, a victim would hold the driver’s insurance company liable for economic and non-economic damages. However, when the driver flees the scene of a pedestrian accident, the pedestrian may recover damages from his or her own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
Types of Injury Cases Our Chicago Hit and Run Lawyers Handle
The attorneys at Lloyd Miller Law handle injury cases that stem from a wide range of incident types. We are: