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You’ve just been in a car accident, but the other driver who hit you has left the accident scene. Knowing what to do to hold the driver accountable is crucial to a hit-and-run case in South Carolina.
The Thumbs Up Guys at Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward explain the steps you must take after the liable party leaves the accident scene. We can help you understand what you need to do to build a strong case.
Gather Any Evidence You Can
Getting exact and complete evidence is difficult when someone hits you in a hit-and-run car accident. However, given the situation, any evidence you can gather could help identify the at-fault driver. Even small details, such as the vehicle make, description of the driver, or any unique stickers or magnets the car had, can be helpful in identifying the driver.
After you’ve gathered identifying information, you should take photos of your car’s damage, any injuries you’ve suffered, and the road conditions. This evidence will be helpful later on when you meet with a hit-and-run accident lawyer.
Obtain Medical Treatment
Next, you should prioritize obtaining medical help. If you or another person at the scene are injured, you should seek medical help. By doing so, you can get a diagnosis of all your injuries, so you aren’t left wondering if you have more severe injuries or are surprised later when your injuries turn into a severe condition.
When you get medical care promptly after a hit-and-run accident, it benefits your case. Then, when you meet with the insurance company with a lawyer accompanying you, you’ll have solid medical evidence to use to recover the compensation you need.
Call the Police
After you’ve had your injuries treated, you should call the police. Police officers can take the evidence you were able to gather and compile it into a comprehensive accident report. Then they can use the information and their investigative skills to find the liable party and establish fault in your accident.
Even though it may be tempting to try to find the driver that hit you, you should leave this task to the police. If you were to go out to try to find the at-fault driver, you would interfere with the accident investigation and potentially face consequences or be further injured. That’s why it’s best to leave the investigation to the police.
Speak to Surrounding Witnesses
If there were other drivers in cars or pedestrians around when the accident happened, whether they were bystanders or came to help you, talking to them could be beneficial for your accident case. Witnesses often see and notice details from afar that you may have missed because of your first-person perspective in the accident.
Ask the people that were in the vicinity of the accident if they were able to get the driver’s license plate number or noticed any of the driver’s behavior that may have contributed to the accident. After you speak to the witnesses, you should relay the information to a police officer so they have a clearer understanding of the accident.
After you’ve completed these steps, you’ve done all you can concerning the accident. And the next step you should take is getting legal help.
What Legal Steps Should You Take After a Hit and Run Accident?
Once the police identify the at-fault driver responsible for your injuries, you can begin building a hit-and-run accident case with the help of a South Carolina lawyer. We can help you perform the following legal tasks after your hit-and-run accident:
File a Personal Injury Claim
The first legal step you can take to protect your rights after another driver hits you and flees the scene is to file a personal injury claim. When you file a personal injury claim, you show that you intend to hold the liable party accountable for your damages.
However, you only have so long to file a claim in South Carolina. According to S.C. Code § 15-3-530, you have three years from the accident date to file. Even though you have all this time, our South Carolina attorneys recommend that you file well before the deadline.
If you miss the deadline, you’ll be unable to collect any compensation. However, sometimes you could have more or less time to file depending on your accident details. Our lawyers can tell you exactly how long you have to file.
Identify Damages You’re Eligible For
We can also help you determine what economic and non-economic damages you could recover. Your injuries’ severity will determine most of what damages you can recover. Some of the damages you could collect include:
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of income
- Mental anguish
- Loss of companionship
- Property damage
- Loss of consortium
Your injuries and losses after your accident could qualify you for some or all of the damages above. The only way to know the exact damages you’re eligible for is to meet with one of our hit-and-run attorneys in South Carolina.
Meet With the Insurance Company
Negotiating a settlement with an insurance claims adjuster is one of the most intimidating parts of the legal process, and insurance companies intend to keep it this way. However, our team has years of experience dealing with car accident claims and insurance claims adjusters’ tactics.
We can accompany you and defend your settlement so you can get the money you need to cover your accident-related losses. And if we can’t reach a fair settlement, The Thumbs Up Guys at Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward will be ready to take your case to court and advocate for you.
What Is the Penalty for a Hit and Run in South Carolina?
In every state, it is a crime to leave the accident scene. However, if a driver temporarily leaves the accident scene to get medical help or alert authorities, it is not a crime as long as they return.
But if they don’t return, South Carolina law defines it as a misdemeanor. If the driver that fled the accident scene is convicted, they could go to prison for up to a year and have to pay a fine ranging from $100 to $5000.
Learn More About What To Do After a Driver Leaves the Accident Scene
It’s frustrating when someone who hit you flees the scene leaving you to pick up the pieces, literally and financially. But you’re not alone; the Thumbs Up Guys at Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward can help you build a strong hit-and-run case.
You can give us a call or fill out the contact form to learn more about what you should do after the other driver leaves the accident scene in South Carolina.
