Reasons to Hire a Frederick Car Accident Lawyer After a Hit and Run in Maryland

Any motorist involved in an accident causing injury or property damage in Maryland is required by law to stop at the scene, assist anyone who’s injured, and exchange information with the other driver. If the damaged car is parked and unoccupied, the at-fault motorist should leave information where it can easily be found by the owner. According to our Frederick car accident lawyer, a driver who strikes your car, whether it’s moving or parked, and simply drives away is guilty of a hit and run, which is a crime. Despite criminal penalties for a hit and run, drivers sometimes leave the scene of an accident because they fear police contact for a number of reasons:

• Driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs
• Outstanding warrants
• Violation of parole
• Undocumented immigration
• Driving a stolen car
• Transporting stolen goods or illegal drugs
• No driver’s license
• No car insurance

Hit-and-Run Injuries

There are serious injuries that a victim of a hit and run can suffer, including: 

• Spinal cord damage/paralysis
• Broken/fractured bones
• Cuts/burns/scarring
• Internal bleeding/organ damage
• Concussion/traumatic brain injury

According to our Frederick car accident lawyer, the more severe your injuries, the higher your medical bills will be, and the more compensation you’ll need to pay them.

Getting Fair Compensation After a Hit and Run

Even if the hit-and-run driver who caused your accident is later apprehended, charged, and convicted, the criminal conviction will not compensate you for your damages. You’ll have to file a claim against the driver’s insurance company to receive compensation for your:

• Property damage
• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering

If the hit-and-run driver is not apprehended or has no insurance, the uninsured motorist (UM) coverage on your own auto insurance policy should provide coverage up to the limits you’ve chosen, so you can file a claim with your insurance company. Later, if the driver is apprehended, your insurance company could file a subrogation claim against any settlement you recover. It’s possible that your insurance company might try to dispute, deny, or devalue your claim to save money. In such a complex case, the services of an experienced Frederick car accident lawyer are recommended to help you get fair compensation.

Protecting Your Claim After a Hit-and-Run Crash

If you’re physically capable and can do so safely, you should take the following steps after being involved in a hit and run:

• Try to get a photo of the fleeing vehicle and its license plate. If you can’t, try to remember the make, model, and color of the car
• Stay at the scene and call 9-1-1
• Take photos of the crash scene and the damage to your own car
• Get contact info from any witnesses
• When police arrive, answer their questions honestly but do not:

• Volunteer extra information
• Admit any fault
• Sign any documents other than those the police require

• Don’t rush to repair your damaged vehicle
• Seek medical attention immediately whether you feel you’re injured or not
• Notify your insurance company
• Don’t discuss your wreck or injuries on social media
• Consult the best Frederick car accident lawyer you can find

The Role of Your Frederick Car Accident Lawyer

Getting fair compensation for a hit-and-run personal injury claim can be complicated and difficult, especially if you’re recuperating from injuries caused by the crash. While you recover, your Frederick car accident lawyer can help you in a number of ways, including:

• Conducting an independent investigation of the accident
• Calling in an accident reconstructionist to prove the liability of the hit-and-run driver
• Interviewing witnesses
• Obtaining video footage from security cameras near the scene of the wreck
• Consulting with your doctors about your current and future medical needs and expenses
• Assembling/organizing your medical evidence and presenting it convincingly
• Putting a dollar amount on your pain and suffering
• Making sure you meet all deadlines/procedural requirements
• Filing and responding to motions/completing necessary paperwork
• Observing the statute of limitations
• Communicating with your insurer/dealing with insurance adjusters
• Demanding a fair settlement and negotiating with your insurance company to get it
• Negotiating a subrogation claim by your insurer if you should later collect compensation from the at-fault driver
• Taking your case to trial and fighting for you in court if you’re not offered a fair award

Were You the Victim of a Hit and Run? Contact the Best Car Accident Lawyer in Frederick!

You stand to get a significantly better settlement with an experienced Frederick car accident lawyer than without one, so you have nothing to lose and much to gain by contacting us online, starting a chat, or calling us at 301.790.3600 to schedule a free consultation. You pay no attorney fees unless we win your case.