Hit and run accidents in Idaho Falls, Idaho, happen more often than you’d expect and can involve serious damages for accident victims. After a negligent driver commits a hit and run, victims are left struggling with injuries, medical bills, lost income, and other costs due to the accident. If you or a loved one were injured in a hit and run accident, you could be entitled to financial compensation. An Idaho Falls hit and run accident lawyer can help you seek justice.
A hit and run accident can differ from other accidents because they require quick action to locate the offending driver. An experienced Idaho Falls hit and run accident attorney will collect evidence and work with law enforcement to help your case. Having an attorney at your side during the process can help you get the financial recovery you deserve.
Contact Parker & McConkie Personal Injury Lawyers at (208) 418-0633 in Idaho Falls, ID, to learn more about your legal options after a hit and run accident.
How Parker & McConkie Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Hit and Run Accident in Idaho Falls
You must prove certain key points to succeed in a hit and run accident claim. First and most importantly, you will need to identify the at-fault driver. An Idaho Falls car accident attorney with experience in hit and run car accidents will know what evidence to look for and how to track down the driver responsible for your injuries. Your Idaho Falls personal injury lawyer will also know how to communicate with local law enforcement to get information that will be helpful to your claim.
Our Idaho Falls personal injury attorneys will also do any of the following for you:
- Investigate the facts and details of the accident.
- Work with local law enforcement to identify the driver that caused the crash.
- Locate any other drivers or individuals that played a role in the crash.
- Explain your full range of legal options and offer critical guidance.
- Negotiate with insurance companies during the claims process.
- Hire experts who can support your claim. Experts can include accident reconstruction specialists, medical experts, occupational experts, and forensics experts.
- File a lawsuit on your behalf and handle all aspects of your personal injury case.
- Take your case to trial if the other side will not offer a fair settlement.
Contact our law office in Idaho Falls, ID, to learn how our dedicated hit and run accident attorneys at Parker & McConkie Personal Injury Lawyers can help you.
What Is a Hit and Run Accident?
A hit and run accident is a car crash where one driver hits another, then fails to stay at the crash location. Idaho law requires drivers to remain at the scene of an accident until information is shared and aid is rendered. Failing to stay at an accident scene can result in felony criminal charges.
In addition to criminal liability for a hit-and-run driver, leaving an accident scene causes hardships for those left at the crash site. Police will not be able to interview all drivers in the accident at the scene as part of their investigation, and accident victims will not know who to turn to for insurance coverage or civil liability purposes. Hit and run accidents can also delay the insurance claims process and the timing of a personal injury lawsuit in Idaho Falls.
Common reasons for drivers to flee an accident include:
- Drunk driving
- Drugged driving
- Lack of insurance
- Lack of a valid driver’s license
- Prior criminal history
- Immigration status
- Fear of arrest
- Panic and confusion
No matter what the reason, there is no acceptable excuse for leaving a vehicle crash scene before the police arrive.
What Should I Do After a Hit and Run Accident?
A hit and run accident can be shocking and chaotic. You could also experience serious injuries that affect you physically and mentally.
Here are some things to do after a hit and run crash:
- Try to get the license plate number of the at-fault driver, if possible.
- Get the make and model of the other driver’s car when possible, and get photos or video if you can.
- Call 911 immediately and tell them the information you have.
- Take note of any important details connected to the accident, including the location.
- Try to get names and contact information for eyewitnesses.
- Take pictures and video of the accident scene. Make a note of any distinguishable features and landmarks.
- Call an Idaho Falls hit and run accident lawyer.
The minutes and hours after a hit and run crash can be critical to your case.
What Is Negligence and How Can You Prove It?
Under Idaho law, your personal injury lawyer will need to prove four elements of negligence in a hit and run accident case:
- Duty of care to other drivers on the road;
- Breach of duty by the at-fault driver;
- Causation between the driver’s actions and your injuries;
- Damages, such as injuries, medical bills, lost wages, and other costs.
In a hit and run accident, many facts will be confusing and uncertain. Experienced car accident lawyers can help ease your mind and obtain the compensation you deserve.
Call Our Idaho Falls Hit and Run Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If you were injured in a hit and run accident in Idaho Falls, ID, you could have important legal rights. Contact Parker & McConkie Personal Injury Lawyers at (208) 418-0633 to schedule a free consultation today with an Idaho Falls hit and run accident lawyer.