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Protect Your Rights After a Hit-and-Run Accident in San Antonio


— January 17, 2025

Being involved in a hit-and-run accident can leave victims confused and uncertain about their next steps.


Hit-and-run accidents are the most distressing experience a driver or a pedestrian will ever be in. Accidents occur every day in San Antonio and can leave people searching for where and how to go from there. Physical, emotional and financial trauma caused by such accidents may become overwhelming quickly if those responsible are unknown and leave without remedying their damage at the scene of an incident. 

Understanding your legal rights and taking the appropriate actions will significantly increase the odds of recovering compensation for injuries sustained in an auto accident, especially one where no vehicle stopped at a stop light or in which no driver stopped at all. We will explore here what steps should be taken following an unattended-driver car crash as well as how a San Antonio car accident lawyer can protect your legal rights in such instances.

What Constitutes a Hit-and-Run Accident?  

A “hit-and-run accident” refers to incidents when drivers involved in collisions flee without providing contact details, insurance information or aiding injured parties if caught – an illegal act under Texas Law which can bring severe penalties for those caught fleeing after colliding with another vehicle, pedestrians or stationary objects like parked cars or fences. Texas law mandates all drivers involved, no matter who was at fault in an incident to exchange information and exchange contacts; failing which can further complication and prolong legal processes when victims seek justice against their attacker.

Hit-and-run accidents in San Antonio often happen during times of high traffic congestion; this increases the chance for minor collisions; yet even quieter residential neighborhoods can experience hit-and-run incidents when drivers fear the penalties associated with being caught and stop providing aid – either minor or major crashes, this behavior only makes things worse for victims and witnesses of these collisions.

Immediate Action to Take Following a Hit-and-Run Accident 

Your immediate actions after being involved in a hit-and-run collision could make or break its outcome. First and foremost, ensure both yourself and any passengers’ safety by moving to an alternative route away from traffic before checking for injuries like whiplash and internal bleeding that might not show themselves immediately. It is imperative that medical assistance be sought, even if symptoms don’t manifest immediately after an incident has happened. 

Next time you’re hit by a negligent driver, file an insurance claim and pursue legal action because you can report the hit and run to the San Antonio Police Department as quickly as possible. Until law enforcement arrives on scene, gather as much information as you can: After all of this, note any detail about the fleeing vehicle such as, make, model color and license plate number if available and take photographs of your damaged car and yourself if possible, this will help in case you need to appear in court in the future to prove a claim. 

Once the police arrive and file their report, ensure you collect a copy for use as evidence during insurance claims or legal proceedings. 

Also notify your insurance provider as soon as possible: even though the at-fault driver may have fled, many policies include coverage against hit-and-run accidents known as uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage that might apply in these instances.

Challenges of Hit-and-Run Cases

One of the primary difficulties associated with hit-and-run cases is identifying those responsible. Without their information, it may be hard to hold drivers liable unless law enforcement apprehends them and bring charges. Even once found by authorities, proving fault in an accident can still be challenging in its absence of witnesses and surveillance footage.

After going through the investigation process, victims of hit-and-run accidents face additional obstacles when seeking compensation from those at fault. If no driver can be identified or is uninsured, victims will rely on uninsured motorist coverage – an optional but essential feature in many auto policies in Texas which enables victims to receive adequate reimbursement for injuries sustained, vehicle damages incurred and related expenses. 

Without it, recovery might become increasingly challenging for injuries, vehicle repairs and expenses related to such collisions.

Understanding Your Legal Rights as a Hit-and-Run Victim

If the driver responsible can be identified, you can file a claim directly against their insurance or initiate legal proceedings directly against them. However, in cases when no driver can be located or they do not carry enough coverage on their policies to cover expenses that resulted from an accident – your uninsured motorist coverage can provide financial relief when nobody can. It provides coverage when responsible parties cannot be located or do not possess adequate policy limits to cover them all. 

In Texas uninsured motorist coverage is optional but highly beneficial when hit-and-run cases involve hit-and-run scenarios where expenses need to be covered when responsible parties cannot be located or when adequate insurance coverage does not exist for hit-and-run cases when responsible parties cannot find or do not possess adequate policy limits in terms of uninsured motorist coverage provided through insurance policyholder’s own uninsured motorist coverage may provide relief financially when responsible parties cannot.

Punitive damages may also be pursued if it can be shown that a fleeing driver acted recklessly or maliciously, with this compensation intended as punishment against their wrongdoer and as deterrence against similar offenses in future. Consulting with an experienced San Antonio car accident attorney will ensure you receive fair compensation.

A San Antonio Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

If you’ve been involved in a hit and run car accident near San Antonio, you know finding qualified help navigating the legal process isn’t easy. Fortunately, with expert support from San Antonio car accident lawyers, things can be a lot simpler. 

An informed attorney will review to find all parties involved in a case and establish strong case for damages claim, work very close with law enforcement, insurance providers and medical providers to gather the evidence to defend the case. 

During settlement talks insurance companies will also receive a hard fight from an attorney on your behalf to negotiate fair damages offers and during trials an attorney will fight hard on your behalf to insure your interests are safeguarded in the legal process. You will benefit because their knowledge of Texas personal injury law will be that much more valuable in determining how much successful the outcome of your case can be. 

The Hit and Run Case Compensation Available 

In hit and run cases there are a number of ways hit and run victims may obtain relief against their losses. These are called economic damages consisting of medical bills, vehicle repairs and lost wages because you don’t work probably while you’re away or any out of pocket expenses, and in certain instances these might be noneconomic damages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, quality of life losses, all these are awards. 

If a driver gave rise to such egregious behavior that caused major injuries, so that they fled after causing major injuries or were under the influence of drugs and or alcohol, punitive damages might be available. Assessing what is their full extent, a San Antonio car accident lawyer can assist in assessing all your losses to maximize compensation claims.

Statute of Limitations in Texas

Black and white analog egg timer; image by Marcelo Leal, via Unsplash.com.
Image by Marcelo Leal, via Unsplash.com.

Texas has an expiration date on personal injury lawsuits filed following hit-and-run accidents; generally, two years from when an incident happened to preserve their right to seek compensation from those at fault. While two years may seem long enough for filing legal actions and gathering evidence before this deadline arrives. It’s best to get started quickly to preserve all evidence and take necessary actions by then.

An Experienced San Antonio Car Accident Lawyer Can Make the Difference

Being represented by a San Antonio car accident attorney can make all the difference for the outcome of your case. From investigating to negotiations with insurance carriers and legal proceedings, having someone experienced provide assistance can ease this daunting journey for victims and ensure you will get what is owed them from Texas law as well as their commitment to helping victims ensures you will stand the best chance at receiving justice and compensation from any claim or settlement process.

Conclusion

Being involved in a hit-and-run accident can leave victims confused and uncertain about their next steps, but by understanding your legal rights and taking immediate action with help from an experienced San Antonio car accident lawyer you can protect your interests and pursue justice – either via your insurance provider or the responsible party’s responsibility. Don’t wait another second; contact legal advice as soon as possible after experiencing harm due to this kind of mishap and ensure all of your rights are safeguarded at each step along the way.

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