If you have been injured in a hit and run pedestrian accident, you may be wondering if there is any possible way you can seek justice from the negligent party. While these cases are complex, an experienced New York personal injury attorney will be able to gather the necessary evidence. If you are seeking compensation after being injured in a hit and run pedestrian accident, contact experienced New York personal injury attorney Brian J. Elbaum to get the help you deserve.
First Thing to Do if You Are Injured in a Hit and Run Pedestrian Accident
First, you’ll want to retain competent council as early as possible to do an investigation to see if there may be cameras that were set up in or near the area. We will see if we can identify the plate of the vehicle that struck you.
I had a client call me just the other day who was in an accident and a witness was able to take a photograph of the rear of the vehicle. She came to my office and we were able to do a license plate search and identify the vehicle. You don’t want to leave the scene. You want to make sure the police arrive. You want someone to call 911 so it can be documented on paper in a police report that it was a hit-and-run. If there were witnesses there that were able to provide a plate number, you want that documented on the police report as well. Very often, the police officers will run a search of the plate at the scene of the accident. These are things that you need to do.
What if I’m Unable to Identify the Car?
If you were injured in a hit and run pedestrian accident, but are unable to identify the driver, you might still have a claim if you own a vehicle, or you’re in a household where someone owns a vehicle, like a mother or father. There’s a chance that you can pursue your claim under their policy, for what’s called uninsured motorist protection, to cover you for the loss.
If that’s not an option, there’s another avenue you could potentially go, and that’s through what’s called MVAIC (the Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnity Corporation). They’re an entity that was set up through the government. They step into the shoes of the one that caused the accident, and act as the insurance carrier, but you need to show that it’s an unidentified vehicle that left the scene and that there’s no other coverage available to cover your loss.
Injured in a Hit and Run Pedestrian Accident? Contact Us for a Free Case Review
If you were struck by a vehicle, don’t hesitate to call our New York pedestrian accident lawyers. We have extensive knowledge of New York’s pedestrian safety laws, and we’ve helped hundreds of victims recover compensation. Contact the Law Offices of Brian J. Elbaum to schedule a free consultation.
