Hit and Run Accidents in Boston
Dedicated Lawyers Serving Accident Victims in MA
Motor vehicle accidents are devastating enough in normal circumstances. Realizing that the person responsible for your injuries has fled the scene of the accident, leaving you to deal with the fallout, is even worse.
At Breakstone, White & Gluck, our Boston car accident lawyers have substantial experience handling a wide variety of motor vehicle collision claims, including those based on hit and run accidents. While it may seem that you will be forced to bear the burdens of your injuries on your own if the driver is not identified, this is often not the case. You should seek legal guidance to make sure that you understand all of your options.
Legal Claims Based on Hit and Run Accidents
Hit and run accidents occur in any instance in which a driver involved in a motor vehicle collision flees the scene of the crash. Massachusetts law requires any driver involved in a collision to stop at the scene and to exchange contact information and insurance information with the other driver, bicyclist or pedestrian. It is a criminal offense to leave the scene of the crash before completing this information exchange.
There are a few common types of hit and run accidents. One example is when the person who caused the accident is intoxicated and either unaware of their actions or trying to avoid being charged with a DUI. Hit and run accidents are also common when a distracted driver strikes a pedestrian or bicyclist. The driver may not know that they collided with the pedestrian or bicyclist, or they may flee the scene out of fear of the repercussions. In other situations, a driver may lack the insurance coverage required by law and may flee the scene out of fear of the penalties associated with this violation.
If you are involved in a hit and run accident, it is essential that you receive prompt medical care for your injuries. Also, you should notify the insurance company that insures your vehicle, which may provide certain coverage for any reasonable and necessary medical treatment.
Although the driver fled the scene, it is possible to track them down in some situations. Obtaining the contact information of any witnesses can help piece together information about the hit and run driver, including their license plate number. Also, there may be ways to obtain surveillance footage from cameras in the area to help identify the driver. Your attorney can assist you with pursuing all possible avenues to bring the person who caused your injuries to justice. If you are successful in locating the at-fault driver, you can bring a negligence claim against them to recover compensation for your injuries and damages.
If the driver is not identified, however, you will need to file an uninsured motorist claim with your insurance carrier. Massachusetts law requires motorists to carry at least $20,000 in uninsured motorist coverage. These claims still can be contested, however, because the insurance company will try to protect its bottom line by avoiding or minimizing a payout. Your attorney would need to help you present a case that the crash was caused by the hit and run driver’s careless actions. (This is usually something other than the hit and run itself, since this happens after the crash has already occurred.) For instance, perhaps the driver was speeding or using a cell phone behind the wheel.
Seek Guidance from a Tenacious Hit and Run Lawyer in Boston
After a hit and run accident, you may be coping with serious injuries, property damage, and disruptions to your life. In the event that you are unable to locate the individual responsible for your injuries, seeking compensation through your insurance carrier is a vital avenue of recourse. At Breakstone, White & Gluck in Massachusetts, we have substantial experience fighting for the rights of victims against insurance companies, which may do everything possible to deny your claim. Our attorneys proudly assist victims from Boston, Cambridge, Waltham, Lowell, Newton, Somerville, Quincy, Dedham, Norwood, Brookline, Attleboro, Barnstable, Brockton, Plymouth, Worcester, Lawrence, and Springfield. Our firm offers a free consultation to discuss your situation and how we can help you. Call us now at 1-800-379-1244 or contact us online to get started.