Member of the Colorado Bar Association since 2014. Attorney, Christopher M. Nicolaysen focuses primarily on helping those injured in Colorado car accidents, other auto accidents, and Colorado personal injury incidents.
This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy and clarity by the team of writers and attorneys at Springs Law Group and is as accurate as possible. This content should not be taken as legal advice from an attorney. If you would like to learn more about our owner and experienced Colorado personal injury lawyer, Christopher Nicolaysen, you can do so here.
Springs Law Group does everything possible to make sure the information in this article is up to date and accurate. If you need specific legal advice about your case, contact us. This article should not be taken as advice from an attorney.
A hit-and-run accident occurs when a motorist hits another vehicle and flees the scene before the police arrive.
While there is no state statute on these accidents, attorneys and courts use case law to try and settle these claims.
If you were involved in a car crash where the responsible party fled the scene, an experienced Colorado Springs hit-and-run accident lawyer could guide you through the claims process.
An attorney could deal with insurance companies and handle any legal challenges while you focus on recovery.
Call an experienced Colorado Springs hit and run accident lawyer from Springs Law Group today.
A common hit-and-run scenario is when one motorist gets rear-ended, and the at-fault driver backs up and drives away.
Another instance may occur when both parties agree to move their vehicles to the side of the road to get out of the traffic, and the hit-and-run driver drives away.
Frequently, at-fault drivers leave the scene of an accident because they do not have insurance or a bad driving record and do not want to face additional punishments.
In other types of car wreck cases, information is exchanged between both parties, including insurance policies, driver’s licenses, photos of the scene and both vehicles, statements to the police, and a full police report.
However, when the motorist responsible for the wreck leaves the scene before information can be exchanged, much of the claims process is spent investigating the case to find the at-fault driver.
A hit-and-run accident attorney in Colorado Springs could help an injured motorist through this investigation process.
State law establishes that it is a crime to leave the scene of a motor vehicle accident, even if no one gets hurt.
Therefore, if someone flees the scene, they can end up with a misdemeanor, jail time, fines, or the loss of their driver’s license.
However, there are many common mistakes drivers make after an accident with a hit-and-run driver that can reduce or eliminate their ability to get compensation.
Here’s how you can avoid them.
One of the essential steps a person can take after being injured in a hit-and-run accident is to contact the police immediately.
Creating a report with law enforcement may give the injured party more supporting evidence for their claim.
Additionally, the police may take statements from potential witnesses and collect other evidence at the scene, which could help build a stronger case.
The injured party also should seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
Although some people may feel okay after an accident, having a physician check for any serious injuries is still the best practice.
This allows a medical care provider to document and treat any severe injuries that may have been masked by adrenaline.
This person also should check their insurance policy to ensure that they have uninsured motorist coverage that could pay for their treatment.
Once an injured party takes care of their health, they should call a Colorado Springs lawyer with experience in hit-and-run accidents to discuss their case, the accident, and the intricacies of their insurance policies.
You can recover compensation for damages depending on your specific hit-and-run accident.
However, some common damages from car accidents include medical bills, lost wages, costs for future medical treatment, and property damage.
You can also seek compensation for non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and loss of enjoyment of life.
If you can, try to take a picture of the other driver’s license plate before they leave.
It would help if you also took pictures of their car so it would be easier for the police to identify the defendant.
Make sure you stay at the scene of the accident until the police arrive so they can make a report.
Find surveillance footage of the other driver fleeing the accident scene if possible.
To improve your car accident case, try to collect evidence from the hit-and-run accident—document precisely what happened and all of your damages.
If you record your damages, you can seek compensation for these losses.
Finally, working with a hit-and-run accident lawyer is in your best interest.
They will ensure that you receive fair compensation for your damages even if you cannot find the driver who hit you.
A Colorado Springs hit-and-run car accident lawyer could help you if you have been injured in a wreck by making an uninsured motorist claim through auto insurance.
Additionally, an attorney could coordinate an investigation with local law enforcement and with your insurance to help find as much information about the at-fault driver as possible.
You do not have to go through this process alone.
To learn how legal counsel could help you, contact Springs Law Group today to schedule a free consultation.
Partner
Attorney, Christopher M. Nicolaysen focuses primarily on helping those injured in car accidents due to no fault of their own.
The personal injury matters include auto accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and trucking accidents.
Chris truly enjoys helping clients through a difficult time and helping them get the compensation they deserve.
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I was uneasy about reaching out to a law firm after being in an accident that left me injured and my vehicle totaled. I don’t care for the idea of suing for what was very clearly an accident. However, after learning more about the overall process of working with a professional team to navigate the murky waters of the insurance world, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the experience wasn’t as gross as I’d originally felt about it.
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Springs Law Group is an amazing group to work with! I got into a rough accident, and they never ceased to let me know they were there working hard to help me in my hour of need. It was always very easy to reach out to someone if I had any questions, and they were always happy to answer any questions I had.
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The entire team at Springs Law group has been nothing but amazing. Jake and the rest of the staff were great to work with and extremely professional. They were very attentive and answered any questions and concerns I had. I was always able to contact them and they were very responsive and communicated with me.
Springs Law Group is an amazing group to work with! I got into a rough accident, and they never ceased to let me know they were there working hard to help me in my hour of need. It was always very easy to reach out to someone if I had any questions, and they were always happy to answer any questions I had.
