Wichita Hit And Run Auto Accident Injury Lawyers

Our car accident injury attorneys are aggressive and are ready to help you

In Kansas, drivers are required by law to stay on the scene when there’s been an auto accident. When you are hit by a driver who does not stop to exchange information about the accident and simply leaves, you’ve been involved in a hit-and-run. PISTOTNIK LAW will fight for you and protect your rights.

In hit and run car wrecks, victims often don’t know what to do to get financial compensation for hit-and-run injuries or property damage because the person to blame has already left the scene. Hit and run drivers leave the scene for multiple reasons. They may be drunk, or on drugs.  They may have contraband in the vehicle. They may not have insurance. Or they may have an outstanding warrant for their arrest.

Those drivers leave the people they have injured and who have property damage to their vehicles stranded.  Our Wichita auto accident injury lawyers offer free advice to review all your options for compensation.

What Is a Hit and Run?

Hit and runs involve any car wreck where a vehicle causes a collision or hits an object or another car and the driver leaves the scene intentionally without providing their contact information. The definition of a hit and run auto accident in most insurance contracts is part of the uninsured motor vehicle coverage and states that an uninsured motor vehicle is a motor vehicle that is a hit-and-run vehicle whose owner or operator cannot be identified and which causes an accident resulting in bodily injury to an insured person.  Normally the insurance contracts require physical contact between the vehicles to be a hit-and-run wreck, although when there is no contact, there still may be coverage depending upon the evidence.

What Should I Do After a Hit-and-Run?

If you are the victim of a hit-and-run accident:

• Don’t try to confront the driver. The person behind the wheel may be dangerous and should not be confronted without the authorities present.  Do try to get a tag or plate number.  If it can be safely done, get a photo or video of the other vehicle
• Call 911 to report the event. Offer as many details as possible, including anything you can recall about the vehicle, such as the make, model, and color of the vehicle, anything unusual about the vehicle and the license plate number.
• Speak to witnesses and obtain their contact information, including their full name, address, and phone number.
• Take pictures of your car and the scene of the accident.

If you were injured in a hit-and-run auto accident, get legal advice as soon as possible. Seek medical treatment as soon as possible.  It is important to have an injury attorney start work on your case right away before evidence is lost or destroyed and while witnesses are available.

I Was Injured in a Hit-And-Run Auto Accident. What Damages Can I Get for My Case?

Injury victims of hit-and-run auto accidents are eligible to be compensated for their injuries, despite that the driver that hit them took off. Kansas laws require all automobile insurance policies to provide uninsured motor vehicle coverage and in the industry, these are called UM claims.  There are sometimes multiple sources of insurance available to be able to pursue UM claims.  First, there is coverage from the vehicle you are driving or that you are a passenger in.  Second, if that vehicle doesn’t belong to you, you will have coverage through your own personal auto policy.  Third, if the vehicle you were in is not insured, and if you don’t own an insured vehicle, you can bring a claim against the insurer of any vehicle owned by a relative if you reside with that relative.  Sometimes you can pick the insurer with the highest coverage if there are multiple insurers.

 Our injury lawyers will help get you maximum compensation for your damages. And, if the driver who hit you is identified, a lawyer can also help you make claims against that driver and their insurer, or even bring a lawsuit against them. The damages that are recoverable in a hit and run car wreck through the UM coverage are the same damages recoverable against the negligent driver.  These include medical bills incurred to date, future medical bills, wage loss, lost earning capacity in the future, and all types of noneconomic damages like pain and suffering, mental anguish, disability, disfigurement, loss of time, inconvenience, loss of enjoyment of life, etc.

Who Pays for My Damages After a Kansas Hit-And-Run Car Wreck?

If the driver who hit you is identified, assuming they are insured, their insurance company would be responsible for paying for your damages. However, if the driver can’t be identified, you have an UM claim against your auto insurer.  They pay your damages in addition to the Kansas no fault personal injury protection benefits afforded by your auto policy.

Kansas requires UM coverage in your auto insurance policy, and we can help make sure you are fully compensated for your damages. If the at-fault driver was identified, we can help you pursue a claim. There may also be other options we can pursue for you.

How Can a Lawyer Help Me?

An auto accident can be overwhelming dealing with a lack of transportation, lost wages, and multiple issues with insurance companies and medical care and there are many things that an attorney can do for you if you are ever involved in a hit-and-run. You can make a claim on your own, but having an attorney representing you can make a big difference in getting maximum compensation for all your accident related damages. Unfortunately, insurance adjusters are more than willing to take advantage of you.  Their job is to do just that.  Talking to a lawyer regarding your case is wise, even if you ultimately don’t have a case. Fully explore your legal options by contacting a personal injury lawyer – we offer a free case consultation and work on a contingency fee basis (no money up front needed).

Contact Pistotnik Law for a Free Consultation

Our firm has been helping the injured in Kansas for more than 37 years. We know an injury from a car accident can affect victims and their families physically, emotionally, and financially. Our attorneys take your case seriously from the start. We work hard to build strong cases and help you recover the highest amount of compensation possible.  Our contingency fee means you owe us nothing unless we recover financial compensation for you.

Call a respected and established law firm that people have trusted for decades. We handle cases in Wichita and throughout Kansas. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. We’ll review the details of your hit-and-run accident, go over your legal options, offer you free advice, and answer any questions you have.