Insurance Coverage in a Pedestrian Hit-and-Run
Get financial recovery from your own insurance company in a hit-and-run accident. If you’ve been involved in a hit and run accident that left you with medical bills, or lost wages due to missing work – contact our law office.
We’re very familiar with pedestrian accidents and working with insurance companies, even if the person at fault cannot be found. Contact our Auto Accident Lawyers with questions or tell us your story – (815) 964-8303.
More Resources in Pedestrian Hit-and-Run Accidents
Blog Post: What to do After a Pedestrian Accident?
Pedestrian accidents can fall under Personal Injury Law, Automotive Accident Law, Wrongful Death, or even workers’ compensation, learn more by clicking the link. Pedestrian accidents aren’t always cut and dry. If you have been injured and you plan to contact the driver’s insurance company, or even your own in a hit-and-run accident, make sure you don’t agree to anything that doesn’t feel adequate. You can always contact our Personal Injury Lawyers to get clarity on your case and what you should do.
What Happens if a Driver Flees the Scene?
Drivers may panic, especially when that driver knows that he or she violated a traffic law. For instance, if the driver was drunk, they might leave to avoid the legal consequences and possible jail time.
Leaving a crash scene is illegal as well, though. Hit-and-run crashes violate Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/11-401, and in cases where a person suffers serious injuries or death, the crime is a felony.
Drivers who flee can face years behind bars.
For the victims of hit-and-run crashes, the aftermath of these incidents can be frustrating and confusing. It can be difficult to know the right steps to take when the person who caused your injuries is unknown. Collecting compensation from a negligent driver is dependent on knowing their identity. But what if there is no driver to file a claim against?
In some cases, police will later find the driver, and you will have the opportunity to collect compensation. However, even if that driver remains a mystery, you still might be able to collect from your own insurance company. In many cases, your uninsured motorist policy will apply.
What About Insurance Coverage?
When dealing with your own insurance company, things can become complicated. Once your insurance company faces requests to pay for the damage caused by a hit-and-run driver, the insurance company effectively steps into the shoes of that driver. The injured pedestrian can find himself or herself in a legal battle with the insurance company. It is a good idea to consult with an attorney in these cases to learn your rights and ensure that the company is treating you fairly.
Drivers Without Insurance Coverage
The law dictates that all drivers in Illinois must have car insurance. Of course, not every driver will comply with that law, and in some cases, that can mean that a victim of a crash will not be able to recover from the driver’s insurance policy.
Other times, a driver might cause serious life-threatening injuries to a person, and yet that motorist’s policy might only cover a small fraction of the actual damages. The at-fault driver might have little in the way of assets that the victim could tap into beyond the insurance coverage.
Pedestrians harmed by another driver who does not have insurance or who carries minimal coverage may be able to collect from their own policy under your Uninsured Motorist Coverage.
It is a good idea to look into your own policy, as it is the coverage that you might have to rely on in covering your injuries.
An attorney can help you negotiate with your insurance company to get the most compensation from your own insurer in these instances.
Never Wait to Contact an Attorney After a Pedestrian Crash
An attorney will be able to speak to the insurers and carry out negotiations on your behalf. People often fail to understand the impact of what they say to insurance companies, and some will even agree to settlements that are far below that which they are entitled to as a result of the crash.
Don’t forget in Illinois, the courts have a two-year statute of limitations limiting when a victim can file a claim. The two years started or starts on the day of the accident. If you’ve been involved in an accident within this time limit you might still be able to file a claim. While two years might sound like a long time, speaking to an attorney sooner rather than later will mean that your lawyer will have more time to negotiate and develop a strategy for your case.
If you or a loved one have been hurt, or injured as a pedestrian please contact Rockford Personal Injury Lawyers for a free, honest, no hassle consultation to see how we may be able to help. We’re available 24/7/365 at (815) 964-8303.