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Posted in Car Accidents on February 20, 2022
If you were involved in a car crash in New Orleans, where the at-fault motorist drove off, the situation may feel incredibly overwhelming. Not only can you be dealing with significant injuries and severe pain that result from this accident, but you likely have no idea what you are supposed to do next to get the money you need to cover your losses and medical bills.
Hit-and-run accidents have killed over 17,000 people in the United States in the last decade, with research showing that hit-and-run crashes are not only increasing but so are the number of deaths. In fact, it is estimated that in just one year, the U.S. experiences over 737,100 hit-and-run accidents, which translates to a hit-and-run happening somewhere in the country every 43 seconds.
Sadly, New Orleans is not immune to these devastating accidents, as hit-and-run accidents are widespread in the state. According, to reports, in October 2021, a 60-year-old woman was attempting to cross an intersection in New Orleans East when she was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver.
In December 2021, the New Orleans Police Department’s Fatality Section had to investigate a traffic accident that occurred in the 13800 block of Chef Menteur Highway, which left a 74-year-old male dead after the victim was struck by a vehicle that fled the scene.
Following a hit-and-run accident, you need to contact the police immediately. Not only is this the fastest way to alert the local authorities and medical personnel of the accident, but it is also the quickest way to get the accident on record.
Once the police arrive, they can investigate your hit-and-run crash and indicate in their police report that the driver fled the scene and other critical information that can help your legal claim if you decide to pursue one after the accident.
If you do not require emergency medical treatment and the area is safe enough to collect evidence, you should try to gather as many details from the scene as you can. This evidence should include:
Photos of your car and its placement on the road
Pictures of your visible injuries
Photos of skid marks on the street
Pictures of traffic signs near the area
Documentation of the weather conditions at the time of the accident
Eyewitness accounts as well as any traffic CCTV
Any other evidence that can help show what happened
Even if you do not require emergency medical treatment at the scene or need to be transported to the hospital following the accident, you should still see a medical professional as soon as possible. Although your injuries may appear minor at first glance, some serious injuries, such as brain trauma, can take some time to manifest. Yet, the longer you wait to get this condition checked out, the more debilitating and fatal the injury can become. For these reasons, it is in your best interest to get checked out by a doctor as soon as possible following your hit-and-run crash.
In addition, getting this prompt medical treatment can also help your legal claim. Following an accident, insurance companies will try to do everything they can to not get you the money you need. As a result, when you do not get prompt medical treatment, these companies will argue that your injuries are not that severe or they resulted from a subsequent accident.
Thankfully, when you get checked over by a doctor shortly after your accident, these medical professionals can examine you and write down information regarding your injuries in their medical report. Ultimately, providing you with evidence of a direct link between your hit-and-run accident and the harm you sustained.
Being involved in a hit-and-run accident is a stressful ordeal that can leave you incredibly angry and frustrated. Although it may seem like a good idea to get this anger out by talking to others or posting on your social media accounts, it may not be in your best interest to do so.
You need to remember that anything you say following an accident can be used against you. That is why after this crash, you should avoid making any definitive statements about what happened, taking any of the blame, or apologizing for the accident. You should also not post anything about the crash on the internet. These comments and posts can be used against you and impact the amount of money you can collect.
If you were harmed in a car crash because of another person’s wrongful actions, you deserve justice and compensation for the losses and injuries you sustained, even if the other driver drove off. Thankfully, with an experienced hit-and-run accident lawyer on your side, you will not have to go after these damages alone. Rather, you can focus on yourself and your recovery while these attorneys take on this legal battle on your behalf.
Once these lawyers are retained, they can:
Review your accident in detail, assess your legal claim, and determine if you have a viable case.
Answer your questions and concerns and help you determine the best legal option you should pursue.
Investigate your hit-and-run crash, and gather the evidence needed to show fault and damages.
Obtain experts, including accident reconstructionists and doctors, to validate your case.
Ensure that legal motions are prepared correctly and filed before time runs out.
Take care of all the discussions and negotiations with the insurance company and fight for maximum compensation.
If you or a loved one have been harmed in a hit-and-run accident in New Orleans, do not wait any longer to secure the legal help you need. Instead, contact the Law Office of John W. Redmann, LLC today for a free case consultation or call our office at 504-500-5000.