After a car accident, you’ll likely be shaken up and unsure what to do next. Police will be asking questions, and the other person(s) in the wreck may be trying to get information from you. In all this confusion, it’s easy to get lost and forget what you need to do — and that can be dangerous.
As personal injury lawyers, we’ve written about what you should do after different types of vehicle accidents. No matter what kind of accident, one of the most important steps is to seek medical attention. After a car wreck, you may have injuries you don’t realize because they are internal and/or disguised by shock and adrenaline.
In addition, waiting to seek medical treatment could hamper your ability to seek compensation later on. If you wait too long, the other party could claim your injuries were due to some other circumstance after the initial wreck.
Our San Luis Obispo car accident lawyers have seen this problem too many times. By seeking medical attention, you can ensure you stay in good health — and have a better chance of getting the compensation you deserve.
First, Get Treated By EMTs
Your first step after being in a wreck is to call 9-1-1. Be sure to ask for an ambulance. That way, medical professionals can treat you immediately on scene. They may tell you you’re fine, or they may decide you need to go to the hospital.
If they decide you need to go to the hospital, don’t argue. Skipping emergency treatment can be dangerous both for your health and your potential lawsuit. If, on the other hand, the EMTs at the scene don’t think your injuries are too severe, you should still seek further medical attention.
Either Way, Go to Your Doctor
EMTs are excellent at what they do. However, they often work with a limited tool set. After your accident, your doctor can conduct a full evaluation, including x-rays and MRIs as needed. Be sure to either go to urgent care or your general practitioner to make sure you get the full medical treatment you need.
Your treatment shouldn’t stop there, however. Whether you went to the emergency room or you visited your doctor, you should seek follow-up treatment. Your doctor may prescribe a treatment regimen, and you should follow it. Continue treatment until your doctor says you’re done. Otherwise, your initial injury could be made worse.
If you feel symptoms such as pain in the injured area, dizziness, or numbness, go back and get medical treatment immediately. It might be unrelated to the injury, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Where Should You Seek Medical Treatment?
If you can, your best bet is visit your general practitioner and let them recommend any specialists you may need to see. But in some instances, you may need more urgent treatment, and your doctor may be busy. Luckily, there are other options.
Walk-in clinics and urgent care facilities can be great options if your doctor is too busy to see you in a timely manner. These centers are great for normal injuries, like sprains and minor burns. However, if you’re suffering from a more extreme injury, a trip to the emergency room may be in order.
Emergency rooms should be reserved for extreme injuries, such as broken bones, severe burns, breathing difficulties and other severe trauma. ERs are equipped to to handle emergency situations, as their name suggests.
If money is an issue, know that urgent care and walk-in clinics are often cheaper than ERs, but generally provide fewer services. Make sure you check with your insurer to see what your copay and other fees would be.
Keep Track of Your Medical Records
When you speak to a San Luis Obispo car accident lawyer, one of the best pieces of evidence you can supply for them is a detailed record of your medical treatments. Ask your doctor for a copy of your medical records, and review them for any mistakes.
One of the most common mistakes found on these kinds of medical reports is the description of the accident. Make sure the details are correct, including what happened in the wreck and what injuries you sustained. If the accident description in your medical records doesn’t match the description in the police report, more issues may arise down the road.
You should also check to make sure your symptoms are listed correctly in your medical records. For instance, if your symptoms don’t list headaches, nausea and other symptoms of a concussion, it may be harder to include a traumatic brain injury in your lawsuit claims.
The final issue you need to check is your medical history itself. A misleading medical history could keep you from getting the full compensation you deserve. For example, if your doctor lists a history of elbow problems, but you’ve never had any issues before your car wreck, the other party could say your injury was due to a pre-existing condition, not the accident.
Make sure everything in your medical records is completely accurate, and keep records of your treatment. That way, you can help your San Luis Obispo car accident attorney craft a strong case on your behalf.
Speak to a San Luis Obispo Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you’re injured in a car accident, you need experienced legal representation. The attorneys at Ernst Law Group are here to help. We’ve been helping victims of car accidents get the compensation they deserve for nearly 40 years.
Call (805) 541-0300 or contact us online to speak with an experienced San Luis Obispo car accident lawyer today. We’ll review your case for free, and advise you on what we believe are the best steps forward.
September 23 – 29 is Child Passenger Safety Week. Hopefully, we all know that it is important to use an approved car seat for our young children, but the laws regarding the use of car seats require car seats for older children as well.
Children under 2 years old must ride in a rear-facing car seat, unless the child weighs 40 pounds or more, or is taller than 40 inches. Children under the age of 8 must be secured in a car seat, or booster seat in the back seat of the vehicle.
Children who are at least 8 years old or are 4 ft. 9 inches tall may be secured in a booster seat, but at minimum must be secured by a safety belt.
Putting your child in an appropriate car seat or booster is the single most important thing you can do to increase the chances your child will survive a car crash. Still, car crashes are the leading cause of death for children 1 to 13. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2015 in the United State 663 children ages 12 years and younger died as occupants in motor vehicle crashes and 121,350 were injured.
One CDC study found that at least 618,000 children ages 0 – 12 rode without a car seat at least some of the time. Of the children ages 0 – 12 who died in car crashes in 2015, 35% were not buckled.
Car seat usage reduces the risk for death to infants under 1 by a staggering 71%, and by 54% for children aged 1 – 4. Booster seat usage reduces the risk of serious injury by 45% for children ages 4 – 8. For older children, the proper use of a seat belt reduces the risk by half.
These statistics should make every parent insist that a car seat is used every time their child rides in a car.
But, the use of a seat is not enough. The seat must be properly installed. Using a booster seat is easy. Just place the child in the seat, secure the latches and use a regular car seatbelt. But, installing a car seat can be very difficult. Many times, one must kneel in the seat to be able to secure the latches to the anchors under the back seat. Sometimes in can be difficult to even get an adult into the back seat to properly install the car seat.
Fortunately, there are many resources available to help anyone install a car seat free of charge.
In our experience, you can go to any CHP office and just ask for help. A trained officer will come out to your car and make sure your seat is installed properly. This is certainly worth 15 minutes of your time.
Many agencies and cities hold Car Seat Safety Checks, also free of charge. This list below, while certainly not comprehensive, will give you an abundance of resources and information concerning car seat usage and installation.
Above all else, please secure your child in a car seat.
If you or your child is injured in a car accident, you have legal options. Contact the San Luis Obispo personal injury lawyers at Ernst Law Group today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
September 23 – 29 is Child Passenger Safety Week. Hopefully, we all know that it is important to use an approved car seat for our young children, but the laws regarding the use of car seats require car seats for older children as well. Children under 2 years old must ride in a rear-facing car seat, unless the child weighs 40 pounds or more, or is taller than 40 inches. Children under the age of 8 must be secured in a car seat, or booster seat in the back seat of the vehicle. Children who are at least 8 years old or are 4 ft. 9 inches tall may be secured in a booster seat, but at minimum must be secured by a safety belt. Putting your child in an appropriate car seat or booster is the single most important thing you can do to increase the chances your child will survive a car crash. Still, car crashes are the leading cause of death for children 1 to 13. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2015 in the United State 663 children ages 12 years and younger died as occupants in motor vehicle crashes and 121,350 were injured. One CDC study found that at least 618,000 children ages 0 – 12 rode without a car seat at least some of the time. Of the children ages 0 – 12 who died in car crashes in 2015, 35% were not buckled. Car seat usage reduces the risk for death to infants under 1 by a staggering 71%, and by 54% for children aged 1 – 4. Booster seat usage reduces the risk of serious injury by 45% for children ages 4 – 8. For older children, the proper use of a seat belt reduces the risk by half. These statistics should make every parent insist that a car seat is used every time their child rides in a car. But, the use of a seat is not enough. The seat must be properly installed. Using a booster seat is easy. Just place the child in the seat, secure the latches and use a regular car seatbelt. But, installing a car seat can be very difficult. Many times, one must kneel in the seat to be able to secure the latches to the anchors under the back seat. Sometimes in can be difficult to even get an adult into the back seat to properly install the car seat. Fortunately, there are many resources available to help anyone install a car seat free of charge. In our experience, you can go to any CHP office and just ask for help. A trained officer will come out to your car and make sure your seat is installed properly. This is certainly worth 15 minutes of your time. Many agencies and cities hold Car Seat Safety Checks, also free of charge. This list below, while certainly not comprehensive, will give you an abundance of resources and information concerning car seat usage and installation. Above all else, please secure your child in a car seat. If you or your child is injured in a car accident, you have legal options. Contact the San Luis Obispo personal injury lawyers at Ernst Law Group today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
This morning yet another fatal wreck was reported at the Highway 46 Cholome “Y”.
This area is often referred to as Blood Alley due to the abnormally high number of serious crashes at the site. KSBY is reporting that a military Humvee collided head-on with a smaller car. Initial indications are that a blown tire may have caused one of the vehicles to drift into the opposing lane of travel.
The intersection of Highways 41 and 46 is known as the James Dean memorial Junction, in memory of the actor who died in a car crash in that spot on September 30, 1955. The Highway 41 turn-off from Highway 46 is a major route of travel for both passenger vehicles and big-rigs traveling to the US Highway 5, and into the Central Valley, including Fresno.
According to California Department of Transportation statistics, the average daily traffic volume at this intersection is 6,550 vehicles, with a large percentage (23.71%) being large trucks. This many vehicles being driving on narrow, often single lane roads, is a dangerous mix. At this area of the highway there are no barriers between the East- and Westbound lanes. Such a lack of barrier can be critical. There are a variety of reasons why a vehicle might cross into an opposing lane of travel. Drowsy and distracted driving accounts for a large number of traffic collisions.
Distracted Driving Is Deadly
The problem is even more serious when teens are behind the wheel. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 21% of teen drivers involved in fatal crashes were distracted by their cell phone.
It is not just texting that results in distracted driving. Studies have shown that hands-free and voice activated calling features can be just as dangerous because the drivers’ attention is not on the roadway conditions.
As a society, we are keenly aware of the potential dangers of drunk driving. There is even a moral component to objections to drunk driving. We know that it is just wrong. But the same is not true for distracted driving. Many of us, probably most, have looked at a text while driving. The vast majority of us have talked on a cell phone while driving.
We think we can do it safely because we can “multi-task” and we only look away for the quickest glance. The statistics don’t bear this out. Thousands of people are being injured and killed as a result of distracted driving.
It’s Not Just Distracted Driving
A sub-set of distracted driving is drowsy driving. Can a single one of us honestly say that we have never driven while struggling to stay alert and awake? According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, drowsy drivers are involved in an estimated 21% of fatal crashes. This is up from 16.5% in a similar 2010 study.
This is a staggering statistic. Why the increase? We don’t know for sure. Busier roads? More tired drivers on the road? Whatever the reason, this means that thousands of our family members are being killed or injured every year by drivers too tired to pay attention.
Another potential problem is unsafe passing. Because of the 55 MPH speed limit and the large number of big-rigs traveling this route the trip can be slow, especially if you’re stuck behind a slower moving truck.
As San Luis Obispo locals, all of the lawyers at Ernst Law Group have traveled this route many, many times. Over and over we see drivers becoming impatient and attempting to pass when there isn’t enough room, or even crossing double yellow lines where no passing is allowed. When two vehicles traveling at 50 to 60 MPH collide, the consequences are usually fatal. In California, passing over a double yellow line is a violation of Vehicle code § 21460.
In the crash reported this morning, initial reports indicate that a blown tire may have caused one of the vehicles to swerve into the opposing lane causing the head-on wreck. It is unclear yet which vehicle moved into the opposing lane.
Speak to a San Luis Obispo Car Accident Lawyer Today
In wreck like this, any potential lawsuit must examine several factors. First, was it a blown tire that caused the wreck, or was the tire damaged in the wreck? Careful analysis, including accident reconstruction experts will be necessary to answer this question. Second, if a blown tire was the cause, why did the tire blow? Was the tire worn? Or, was the tire defective.
There has been extensive litigation over wrecks caused by defective tires. Finally, one must ask if this wreck would have been avoided by the presence of a barrier between the lanes.
Plans are in the works to turn the Highway 41/46 interchange into an overpass, but funding has delayed the project for years. Hopefully, soon, a barrier will be installed to help prevent tragedies such as this.
If you are involved in a wreck, call a San Luis Obispo car accident lawyer at Ernst Law Group today at (805) 541-0300 for a free, no-obligation consultation.
During the same time period in 2018, there were 2,964 fires that burned 91,646 acres.
The five year average for the same time period is 2,811 fires and 36,967 acres burned.
The statistics above are from CalFire and may be underestimated, according to some reports. Other numbers say that there have been 196,092 acres burned across the state to date. No matter which numbers are the most accurate, one thing is for certain: This year’s wildfire season is already the worst in recorded history.
California experienced a tremendous period of drought from 2012 through 2017. The dead vegetation has left shrubs, trees and grasses dead and ready to burn. The dry vegetation has made it difficult to bring wildfires under control as they speed through forests. Deputy Chief of CalFire, Scott McLean, said, “We are going to be dealing with the impacts of that drought for many years.”
Knowing how to react when you encounter a wildfire in your vehicle is important. Your behavior can keep you safe and help you avoid a collision. If you are in a crash, a San Luis Obispo car accident lawyer can assist you. Read on to learn how to avoid the perils of a wildfire.
Driving Safely During Wildfire Season
Driving during wildfire season is no different than driving during any other time of year unless, of course, you encounter a wildfire. If you are forced to evacuate your home or encounter a fire while driving, there are maneuvers you can take to keep yourself as safe as possible.
1. Stay Ahead of the Fire
Don’t wait until the last minute to evacuate. Staying ahead of the fire is the best way to maintain your safety. If you are told to evacuate, do so even if the order is worded in such a way that your leaving is voluntary.
2. Slow and Steady
If you encounter a fire or thick clouds of smoke, keep your vents closed and your headlights on. Stay alert for other drivers and pedestrians. Drive slowly and stay aware. There could be wildlife or livestock trying to get away just like you are.
If you cannot see through the wall of smoke, know that others are having the same difficulty. Don’t be afraid to use your horn to alert people to your presence.
3. Look for a Structure
If you are forced to stop your vehicle due to a nearby fire, look for a solid structure to park next to. The structure will block some of the heat that you experience.
If there is no structure, try to park in as open a space as possible. Trees, shrubs and other combustibles should be avoided if possible.
4. Stay In Your Car When Facing a Fire
Resist the urge to get out of your car and run. Few people can outrun a wildfire, meaning you will be safer in your vehicle. Get down on the floor and cover yourself with a blanket if you have one.
Understand that your car may sway from the wind and that sparks could enter your vehicle. It will be easy to panic, but remaining as calm as possible will help you think clearly and make smart decisions.
5. Get Out When It’s Safe
Exit your vehicle once the fire wall has passed. Call emergency services and wait for instructions.
Speak to a San Luis Obispo Car Accident Lawyer Today
Reach out to our office if you are involved in a car accident caused by a third party. We are a San Luis Obispo car accident attorney and are here to protect your rights. Your first consultation will be held at no cost to you.
In December 2017, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Department in Florida launched a driver safety campaign they called “Avoid the 7 Deadly Sins of Driving.” These “sins” are the leading causes of car accidents in Florida. However, they are problems for drivers throughout the country. According to the Citrus County Chronicle’s report, the 7 deadly sins are:
Distracted Driving
Speeding
Reckless Driving
Running red lights or Stop signs
Driving too fast for conditions
Driving while drowsy
Drunk Driving
The remedies for these 7 Deadly Sins, according to the Sheriff’s office, are:
Keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel
Obey speed limits
Be patient and courteous
Don’t try to “beat the light”
Drive cautiously during bad weather
Don’t drive if you’re fatigued
Never drink and drive, even if you’re just feeling tipsy
The Dangers of Driving Too Fast
These are all good reminders, but most are common sense. However, one issue that is often ignored or misunderstood is driving too fast for conditions. Many people don’t know that the posted speed limit is the maximum speed. If the conditions— such as traffic, weather, road conditions— make the posted speed limit unsafe, you must slow down.
You can get a ticket driving 65 mph on the freeway if the officer determines that 65 mph was unsafe for the current conditions. Most of have seen a car passing us at about the posted speed when everyone else is driving at 50 mph due to heavy rain. That driver is subject to a citation even if he is at, or even under, the posted speed limit. This is known as the “Basic Speed Law” Vehicle Code § 22350:“No person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, the traffic on, and the surface and width of, the highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property.”
The Crash Statistics at NHTSA considers a speed related crash to be any crash involving a car traveling in excess of the posted speed limit, or exceeding the safe speed limit for conditions. In 2015, 48,613 drivers were involved in 32,166 fatal crashes. In these fatal crashes, 35,092 people were killed. 27% of those killed were in a crash involving at least one speeding driver. That means nearly 9,500 people were killed as a result of speed-related accidents in a single year.
The Importance of Driving Safely
We all think it won’t happen to us, Or, that we are safe drivers. But the statistics don’t lie. It just isn’t worth it. Consider the math. A 100 mile trip at 65 mph will take about 1.5 hours of driving time. The same trip at 75 mph will take 1.33 hours. About 10 minutes. Is reducing the risk of a fatal crash by 27% worth 10 minutes of your time? It should be. Please slow down and be safe.
If you are involved in a car accident in San Luis Obispo, contact our team of experienced car accident attorneys today. No matter how severe your accident was, we are here to help you get the financial compensation you deserve. Call us at (805) 541-0300 or contact us online for a free case evaluation. We will work with you to determine your needs and figure out how we can best assist you.
It seems like people are doing everything behind the wheel, except keeping their eyes on the road. Distracted driving puts everyone on the road at risk, including the driver doing the distracted driving. Knowing the top five causes of distracted driving can serve as a reminder of what not to do behind the wheel. It can also be a warning of what you may be doing that you should stop in order to keep your life and the lives of others safe on the road. 1. Cellphone Use We use our smartphones to stay connected to the world. Unfortunately, we stay connected even when we are driving. Using our cellphones while we drive is one of the most dangerous things we do. Experts suggest putting your cellphone where you can’t reach it and turning off the alerts so you aren’t tempted to grab for it. It doesn’t matter if you are talking, texting or scrolling through social media, your cellphone is a definite distraction. No text, phone call, or social media update is as important as arriving at your destination safely. 2. Passengers Anyone who has driven with kids in the backseat knows how distracting they can be, but what about your other passengers? Listening to a loud conversation in your car can be distracting, and adding in your own comments will get you even more distracted. Kindly ask your passengers to keep their voices to a normal level. 3. Music If you rock out behind the steering wheel to your favorite jams, it’s time to reel it in. It has been shown that listening to music with strong beats or head-banging vocals can be distracting. If you don’t want to ride in silence, try listening to a podcast, an audio book or a music genre that is a bit more relaxing. 4. Eating Do not skip eating a meal at home to save time, if it means you are going to try to eat while you are driving. Eating and drinking behind the wheel are becoming top distractions and leading to more car accidents. You can’t eat or drink without taking at least one hand off the wheel. Even worse is taking both hands off the wheel and trying to steer with your knees. Eat at home, at the office or in a restaurant. 5. Personal Hygiene and Grooming Have you ever been driving behind someone putting on their makeup in the rearview mirror? You should never do your makeup in the car, unless it is parked. If you find that you don’t have enough time to do your hair or face in the morning before you leave the house, you need to get up earlier. You can’t do your hair or makeup without looking in the mirror and, if you are looking in the mirror, you aren’t looking at the road. Stop hitting snooze in the morning and waiting until your commute to do your grooming; it is putting your life and other lives at risk. If you have been involved in a car accident in San Luis Obispo and a distracted driver is to blame, you may have the right to compensation. Reach out to our team of personal injury attorneys today to schedule your free case evaluation, and learn more about your legal rights. We are here for you and your family, call today.
Online shopping has become much more popular in recent years. In fact, it has become so popular that many brick-and-mortar stores are experiencing financial difficulties. It stands to reason that the more people find what they need online, the less they are traveling to malls and shops. What some people may not have considered is the impact that online shopping has on traffic.
The Negative Effects of Online Shopping
A few years ago, a man named John Benjamin Woodard sat outside of New York by Gehry, one of the tallest residential buildings in the world, to observe traffic patterns. The man’s purpose was to watch delivery vehicles. Not only watch them, but pay particular attention to where they parked and how long they remained idle. He also took stock of how the vehicles impeded pedestrian and vehicle traffic. He recorded his observations back in 2013, and online shopping has only increased since then. Four years ago, Woodard found that delivery trucks stayed parked an average of 21 minutes. Two-thirds of those vehicles were double-parked. Woodard completed his study as part of a graduate program. What he found was interesting. While some may believe that ordering from online retailers means less cars on the road, because people aren’t leaving their homes to shop, it may actually mean more congestion. Ordering online doesn’t negate people from leaving their homes; it is actually freeing up their time to travel elsewhere. Online shopping is also putting more delivery trucks on the country’s roads.
The Impact of Online Shopping on Traffic
E-commerce is considered by some to be a forgotten problem when it comes to congestion in big cities. This is particularly true when you consider that online retailers have only gained business over the last several years. From taking up multiple parking spaces to impeding the flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic, delivering the goods people have ordered from the comfort of their own homes or offices is creating problems.
Can the Online Shopping Problem be Fixed?
For now, there is no good solution to the problem that has been widely accepted. Some cities have tried to increase deliveries by bicycle. Other cities have welcomed hubs from online giant Amazon, so consumers can pick up their own goods at a convenient location. Research on newly created traffic patterns needs to occur, so we can address the problems online shopping is creating on our country’s roads. Congestion is a problem in major cities, and it is being made worse thanks to the boom of online shopping. While there has been no report of a published study, it can be assumed that more congestion means more vehicle accidents and more danger to pedestrians and bicycle riders. More research needs to be done on the effects of the online shopping boom to both study and ease the congestion that is clogging urban streets. If you have been involved in a car accident in San Luis Obispo, please reach out to our office. We will review the details of your accident and advise you of your legal options. You may be entitled to compensation for your financial losses and we will help you hold the at-fault party responsible for their actions.
People are relying on Uber like never before. Whether for quick trips to the store or a sober ride home after a night on the town, Uber has certainly gained popularity. While you may be counting on Uber as a safe ride to your destination, what if your ride isn’t safe? If you get into an accident caused by an Uber driver, can you sue? Not likely. When you hire an Uber driver, you’re really hiring an independent contractor. This means that people who drive for Uber aren’t employed by the company. Instead, these people technically are only using the name of the company to make some money for themselves. They aren’t employees in the sense that they can pick and choose when they work, how often they work and where they will drive. Because their work isn’t dictated by the company, they can’t be considered employees. If you are involved in an accident with an Uber driver, this means that you can’t sue the company because that person is not working for the company in the truest sense. All of this said, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have a way to seek compensation. In most states, you have options.
As a Passenger
If you are a passenger in a vehicle driven by an Uber driver and are involved in an accident, get out of the car if you are able to and take pictures of the accident. Get pictures of damage to both vehicles and of the surrounding area. Get names and contact information of any witnesses to the accident and write down the name of the driver. Take a picture of your Uber receipt and keep it on your phone. If you are injured in the accident, you are covered by Uber’s insurance. If you end up needing to file a lawsuit for whatever reason, you would sue the at-fault driver, not Uber. You could also potentially sue the insurance company.
As a Passenger in Another Vehicle
Let’s say that an Uber driver causes an accident with a vehicle you are driving or riding in. If the driver is off-duty, you would make a claim against the driver’s personal insurance policy. If the driver is on duty but doesn’t have a fare, you would still file against the driver’s personal policy. However, if the driver does have a passenger, you would be covered under Uber’s insurance. If you have been involved in an accident in San Luis Obispo and an Uber driver was involved, reach out to our team of attorneys. Filing a claim against an Uber or other ride-sharing drivers can be complicated, and you would benefit from legal representation. Call our office today, and schedule an appointment for a free case evaluation. You may be entitled to compensation for injuries and property damage, and the insurance company’s settlement offer may not be fair. Reach out to our team for assistance.
You’re driving down the street and a car hits you and keeps driving. You park your car in front of your house and come out in the morning to find your rear bumper laying on the ground. In either case, you have no way to find out who struck your vehicle. Your thoughts immediately turn to what this means for your insurance premiums.
What Is a Hit-and-Run?
A hit-and-run is when a person causes a vehicle accident and fails to stop and remain on the scene. These accidents can occur between two vehicles, between a vehicle and a pedestrian, or between a vehicle and property.
Who Pays?
If you are involved in a hit-and-run, you will have to contact your own insurance company. The coverage that will pay out is your uninsured motorist coverage. The bodily injury portion of this coverage will pay for your medical bills, and the property damage portion will pay for your tangible losses. If you don’t have this type of coverage, you really should. They are both relatively inexpensive to carry and can provide valuable protection. In most states, the coverage is mandatory if you have financed or leased a vehicle, but optional if you own the vehicle. If you live in California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana or Ohio, uninsured motorist property damage will not pay out in the event of a hit-and-run. Instead, your collision coverage will kick in. Typically, if it is your first accident, you won’t have to worry about your premiums jumping.
What If You Are the Hit-and-Run Driver?
Let’s say that you made an innocent mistake and weren’t aware that you hit something. You will still experience a significant increase in your insurance rates. Your insurance company will view you as a liability and raise your rates accordingly. If you were involved in a hit-and-run and never reported the accident, your insurance company could drop you altogether. It will be difficult to find new insurance and, when you do, you can expect to pay higher rates than other drivers. The bad news is that your insurance rates aren’t all you need to worry about. A hit-and-run driver could be held liable for medical bills and property damage. Your victim has the right to file a civil lawsuit to seek compensation. If the accident results in the death of another person, you could be charged criminally. You will face far greater consequences if you don’t stop than if you remain on scene and provide information to responders. If you have been involved in a hit-and-run in San Luis Obispo, reach out to our office. We will review the details of your accident and advise you of your legal options. Call our office today to schedule a free case evaluation. You don’t have to suffer financial difficulty due to someone’s negligence or reckless behavior.
