Being injured or suffering damage to your vehicle can be a jarring experience even when the other party stays at the scene and is fully cooperative, but things become even more complex when the other driver flees the scene. If the other driver speeds away after causing an accident or you come back to your parked vehicle to find that someone has sideswiped it without leaving a note, what are your options when it comes to getting compensation? We explain how you can go about getting compensation for damages after a hit and run accident in Minnesota.
Compensation When Driver Flees The Scene
Hit and runs are more common than you probably imagine, as the data shows that there were 7,532 reported hit and runs in Minnesota in 2021. In the US, a hit and run accident occurs every 43 seconds. If you find yourself on the wrong end of a hit and run, there are a few steps you’ll want to take to increase your chances of getting the compensation you deserve. Here’s what you’ll want to do.
1. Have Your Injuries Documented – If you are injured, it is imperative that you seek prompt medical care. If you’re not sure how significant your injuries are, get an evaluation. This will create an official documentation from a medical professional, which will go a long way in validating your claims. Do not put off a doctor’s visit if there’s even a remote possibility that you’ll be filing for injury compensation.
2. Document The Scene – If you don’t need immediate medical care, you’ll want to do what you can to document the scene of the accident. Take out your smartphone and start snapping pictures of the damage, your injuries, the accident location and anything that could prove helpful down the road. If there is debris from the other car, collect it so that it may be used to identify the vehicle in the future. You can never take too many pictures when documenting the scene of the accident, just be sure that you are aware of your surroundings and safe from any other passing vehicles.
3. Call The Police – It’s also helpful to get the police on the scene so that they can make an official report and begin an investigation. It’s also helpful to have them create an incident report because it is possible that the other driver has a change of heart and wants to report the accident. A driver has 72 hours to report their insurance information to the other party if they do not do it at the scene, so it’s possible that they can connect with you through the police if an official report is created. Even if they don’t reach out, a police record and investigation can be extremely helpful.
4. Report The Accident To Your Insurance Company – Minnesota is a No Fault state, so even if the other driver stayed at the scene, most claims will end up being filed with your insurance provider. Your insurance company will typically provide you up to $20,000 in coverage for damages and $20,000 in coverage for medical expenses through your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) policy. Filing a PIP claim through your own insurance provider for a hit and run accident should not increase your insurance premium, although it’s possible that you may lose some discounts that are built into your premium, like a claim-free discount.
5. Talk To A Lawyer – It may also be beneficial to talk to a personal injury lawyer if you have additional questions or concerns about a claim. For example, if your damages exceed the limits of your PIP coverage, you may want to pursue an uninsured or underinsured claim, or if the other driver is eventually caught, you may want to take them to court. A lawyer can assist with any issues that arise throughout the process, which may not be as straightforward as you had hoped. We’ll ensure that your interests are protected and that you aren’t lowballed by your insurance provider or the other driver’s insurance provider.
A hit and run claim is pretty similar to a standard car accident claim in Minnesota with minor injuries or damages since you’ll be filing through your own insurance policy. That said, if the other driver is caught or you exceed your injury limits, make sure you connect with an injury lawyer. They’ll make sure that you get full compensation for any injuries or property damage that were the result of the hit and run.
Hopefully you’ll never need us after a hit and run accident, but know that we’ll be here in the event you find yourself without an ally after being injured or experiencing vehicle damage following a hit and run. For more information about hit and run or more standard car accident injury claims, reach out to the team at Hey Workers today at (844) 439-9675.
