Hit And Run
Battle-Tested Advocacy for the Injured
Baton Rouge Hit and Run Injury Lawyer
LA Injury Attorneys for Hit and Run Accidents
Baton Rouge car accidents are often scary and stressful situations, but when the other driver flees the scene, it puts you in a terrible position. In Louisiana, a driver commits a crime if they do not stop to offer help or share their personal information following a car accident. Fines and jail time are possible penalties for a hit and run, but those punishments don’t help an injured driver with their damages. That’s why you need a Baton Rougehit-and-run injury lawyer fighting to recover financial damages for your injuries.
The Baton Rouge car accident lawyers at Joubert Law Firm know just how devastating hit-and-run accidents can be for the injured party. Fortunately, we know what it takes to build a case to recover damages for your car accident injuries.
Our Baton Rouge hit and run injury lawyer would be happy to review your case and explain your legal options during a free consultation, so call (225) 777-8853 immediately if you’ve been the victim of a hit-and-run.
What is a Hit and Run?
Hit and run accidents happen when one of the vehicles involved in a wreck leaves the scene without providing assistance or insurance details. Multiple vehicles, unoccupied cars, motorcycles, and even pedestrians may be involved in a hit-and-run accident. Often, drivers take off after an accident to avoid liability or insurance consequences or if they were drunk driving.
In some cases, police may be able to locate the missing driver. When they do, your hit-and-run accident attorney may seek compensation from that driver and their insurance company to cover your losses and expenses. Car accident victims may have recourse even if a driver runs from the scene after an accident and cannot be identified, depending on the terms of their own insurance policy. To see if you may have a viable car accident claim following a hit-and-run accident, call a Baton Rouge car accident lawyer at Joubert Law Firm right away.
Hit and Run Laws Louisiana
Louisiana law penalizes hit and run drivers with financial penalties and possible jail time. Specifically, RS 14:00 punishes drivers that cause an injury-free accident with a $500 fine and a possibility of six months behind bars. Accidents with injuries or fatalities involved have a $5,000 fine and a maximum of up to ten years imprisonment. A hit and run offense may be a misdemeanor or a felony charge, but accidents resulting in injuries and death usually result in felony charges.
When the Baton Rouge personal injury attorneys at Joubert Law Firm represent you, we seek maximum compensation and justice for the harm you suffered. When we take on car accident claims, our legal team ensures the responsible driver is held accountable for their actions. If authorities cannot locate the driver but identify the vehicle, the vehicle owner may be liable for the accident even if they were not the negligent driver.
What Happens If I’m Injured in a Hit-and-Run Accident?
Injured victims may be able to turn to their insurance provider for compensation if they have Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage or No-Fault Insurance and a responsible party is not located after a hit-and-run car wreck. UM coverage is an add-on in Louisiana, and purchasing it is optional, according to the Louisiana Department of Insurance. Our Baton Rouge personal injury lawyers are prepared to pursue compensation from your UM coverage if your policy includes it. Give us a call today for a free case review.
Common Hit-and-Run Injuries
Depending on the extent of your Louisiana motor vehicle accident, hit and run injuries may range from minor to life-threatening. The most common injuries include:
Broken Bones – Broken bones frequently occur in hit-and-run accidents, especially if the crash involves a pedestrian.
Bruises – Airbags and seatbelts may inflict bruises in a crash.
Cuts and Abrasions – Broken metal, fiberglass, and glass fly around in a collision and may cause lacerations and cuts.
Head/Traumatic Brain Injuries – Head and traumatic brain injuries can occur when a violent jolt or impact causes trauma to a person’s face or head. Vehicle occupants striking their head in a crash or a pedestrian’s head hitting the ground can cause severe head injuries, including concussions, contusions, and permanent brain damage.
Whiplash – Whiplash may occur when a person’s head is thrown violently back and forth in an accident.
Any injury sustained in a car collision has the potential to be a catastrophic injury. You must receive emergency medical attention and attend follow-up visits with your physician to ensure your wounds heal properly.
Why Do Hit and Run Drivers Flee the Scene?
Typically, hit-and-run drivers flee because they’re involved in illegal activity. A driver may not stop after an accident if they:
They are in a stolen vehicle or are operating the car without an owner’s permission
Do not have the minimum amount of insurance required by Louisiana law
Are driving without a license or with a suspended license
Have multiple traffic violations or citations
Have an outstanding arrest warrant
What To Do After a Baton Rouge Car Accident
First, you should call 911 and the authorities. This will create a formal record of the incident. You’ll want to obtain a copy of the police’s traffic collision report.
If you are able to, you should then acquire evidence and information at the accident scene. This includes the other driver’s name, contact info, license plate number, driver’s license number, and insurance information. You should also try to acquire pictures of the site of the car accident, including things like property damage and tire marks.
Receive medical treatment, even if you believe your injuries are minor. This establishes a record of your harm, which is vital to proving your claims. If the pain doesn’t dissipate with time or other symptoms begin to occur, get reevaluated and continue any and all medical care or treatment as suggested by your medical professional(s).
Contact a car accident lawyer immediately. Seeking assistance from a qualified personal injury law firm should be one of your primary concerns in any personal injury or car accident lawsuit. A car accident attorney can help gather evidence, clarify your rights, explain your legal options, and deal with communications with the other party and their insurance company. They will also work on building and strengthening your case to ensure you obtain justice and recover compensation via a settlement or trial.
Do not provide a statement or agree to any deal/settlement from an insurance provider without a car accident attorney to give you insight and a professional legal opinion. Doing so too soon and without proper legal guidance could allow the insurer to lowball you or deny you compensation entirely. Obtain a personal injury car accident lawyer early on and allow them to handle all communication and negotiations.
What Damages Can I Recover From My Motor Vehicle Accident?
If a car accident caused you or a loved one to sustain injuries, filing a personal injury claim can help ensure your receive compensation for both economic and non-economic losses you may have experienced.
Economic Damages Include:
Medical bills, including all past and future medical expenses
Lost wages, including loss of future earning capacity
Accommodations for disability
Physical rehab/therapy
Property damage
Non-Economic Damages Include:
Pain & suffering
Mental anguish
Loss of enjoyment of life
Loss of consortium
There are also some rare instances for punitive damages to be awarded, which work to penalize the culpable party for deliberate, fraudulent, or woefully negligent actions.
Can I Still Receive Injury Compensation After a Hit-and-Run?
If you suffered injuries after a hit-and-run accident, you’re probably unsure where to turn for help. You may be unable to identify the vehicle, and police may not be able to track them down. But how do you recover compensation for the injuries and damages you suffered?
If police locate the driver and they have valid insurance coverage, you may file a claim with their insurer, or your legal representative may file a personal injury claim. But suppose police don’t find the driver or the driver is underinsured or completely uninsured. If your policy contains Underinsured Motorist (UIM), Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage, or No-Fault Insurance, you may still file a claim with your insurance provider. Your policy dictates the damages you may recover, including financial compensation for medical costs, car repairs, lost income, physical therapy, pain and suffering, future medical expenses, and even wrongful death benefits.
Following some dos and don’ts after a hit-and-run car accident can help protect you and your potential personal injury lawsuit. The experienced personal injury attorneys at Joubert Law Firm have provided you with a list of what to do and not to do in this situation:
Dos
Call 911 immediately after the wreck to make an accident report and seek medical attention for any severe injuries.
If possible, collect as much information as possible about the other driver, the vehicle, and the accident in general, including:
License plate number
The car’s make, model, and color
Damage description for the other vehicle
The direction the other vehicle headed
Photos of your vehicle damage and the scene
Time, date, and location of the collision
Ask witnesses for additional information. Remember to record their names and contact details if they give you a statement. If you were not in the vehicle when the accident occurred, eyewitness statements could make all the difference.
File a police report.
Call your personal injury lawyer at the Joubert Law Firm to file an insurance claim.
Don’ts
Do not pursue the hit and run driver. If you leave the accident scene, you’ll miss gathering evidence such as eyewitness accounts and photographs. Plus, law enforcement may believe you are to blame. There is also a risk of putting yourself in a dangerous position with the other driver.
Don’t delay getting medical attention, even if you received minor injuries. You may have hidden wounds masked by the adrenaline surging through your body. You’ll also need this medical documentation if you file a lawsuit. Your Baton Rouge car accident lawyer needs this evidence to link your injuries and the accident.
Determining Accident Liability
Establishing liability in a hit-and-run accident gets complicated when the other vehicle is missing. In some instances, determining what happened is simple. Other times, figuring out how it happened and who holds fault may be challenging. To help clarify liability in your accident and protect yourself, ensure that anyone injured gets medical treatment, and contact the authorities immediately.
What Damages Can I Recover After a Hit and Run Accident?
As previously stated, the damages you may recover after a hit-and-run accident depend on several factors, including:
Whether authorities catch the driver that fled the scene
If so, does the driver have insurance? (They usually run because they do not)
You carry Underinsured Motorist (UIM), Uninsured Motorist (UM), or No-Fault Insurance on your insurance policy
Your insurance includes Medical Pay coverage
The existence of multiple liable parties
The easiest and most realistic way to recover compensation after a hit-and-run accident is through your UM/UIM coverage. As previously mentioned, this coverage is optional in Louisiana. However, it can really save the day when you’re in an accident with a hit-and-run driver or a driver with minimal or no insurance coverage. UM/UIM coverage fills in the gaps for the missing driver’s insurance, allowing you to seek financial recovery for your losses. The caveat is that your attorney must establish physical contact between your car and the hit-and-run vehicle.
If the hit and run driver is identified and you file a claim against them, your settlement options increase. In addition to economic damages for tangible losses such as medical bills, property damage, and lost wages, your Baton Rouge personal injury lawyer can request non-economic damages for any pain and suffering caused by serious injuries. Some of the greatest losses for those suffering personal injuries from a car crash may be non-economic, as severe injury often prevents a victim from enjoying life or the activities they pursued pre-accident.
In some lawsuits, judges or juries may also award punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages (economic and non-economic). Punitive damages punish those who intentionally or recklessly injure another.
Louisiana Prescription for Hit-And-Run Claims
Louisiana personal injury law generally only allows accident victims one year from the date of their accident to file a lawsuit. If legal action does not start before time runs out, the law may prevent you from ever filing in the future. Because it may take some time to track down the missing driver, it is easier to meet this deadline when you have already hired a car accident lawyer.
Why You Need a Baton Rouge Personal Injury Attorney After a Hit-and-Run Accident
A legal professional with experience handling similar personal injury cases and the resources to investigate your accident thoroughly can help ensure you receive fair compensation for your injuries. When you hire a Baton Rouge car accident lawyer for hit-and-run accidents from Joubert Law Firm, we do everything we can to identify your hit-and-run driver and strengthen your personal injury claim. Our experienced and dedicated attorneys use their investigative skills to track down eyewitnesses and surveillance video to identify the missing driver and other potential at-fault parties.
Call for a Free Consultation with Experienced Louisiana Personal Injury Lawyers
After hit-and-run car accidents, the legal professionals at Joubert Law Firm work hard to build a solid personal injury case to recover a fair settlement for your medical expenses, lost wages, and in some cases, wrongful death damages. Our practice’s aggressive and highly-skilled Baton Rouge, LA personal injury attorneys have recovered millions for injury victims, so look no further than when you need effective representation.
In addition to Baton Rouge hit and run accidents, our firm also handles Baton Rouge 18-wheeler collisions, motorcycle accident cases, boating accident claims, dog bite injury claims, wrongful death cases, and more. Our firm stands ready to help with all your legal needs. Call (225) 777-8853 for a free legal consultation with experienced Baton Rouge, LA injury lawyers today.
**As a thank you to all military members and veterans and to show our appreciation for your sacrifice and service, we would like to offer a discount for your legal cases.
“Johnny went above & beyond to help me in a very difficult time. If you need someone to advocate for you, he’s the one to call! So thankful for him & how he handled a case I thought was impossible to help. Give him a call!”
