Hit and run accidents occur when a driver is involved in a collision and leaves the scene instead of staying to render aid, wait for police, and exchange contact information and insurance details. The State Patrol Department of Public Safety issued an alert in recent years about the rising number of hit-and-run accidents in Colorado.
Fleeing from a crash site is illegal in Colorado and can result in serious charges, especially after a fatal accident. Unfortunately, some drivers still break the law. This puts crash victims in a difficult spot because those victims are allowed by law to pursue compensation from those who harmed them. It can be hard to do that if the person who caused the crash is unknown.
If you or someone you love was involved in a crash with a driver who left the scene, you need to contact a Denver hit-and-run accident lawyer as soon as possible. Dan Caplis Law will provide the help and support you need in these difficult cases, as we have successfully helped many hit-and-run crash victims explore all their options for getting the money they deserve.
Who Pays for Damages After a Hit-and-Run Crash?
Police investigate when a hit-and-run accident occurs, and, in some cases, they will find the driver who harmed you.
If this happens, you can pursue a civil claim against that driver — just as you would in an ordinary situation. However, you will have to prove the motorist was the one who caused the crash and left the scene, in addition to showing that the motorist was unreasonably negligent and should thus be held liable for losses.
If the other driver cannot be found, then you can make a claim on your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, and your own insurer should pay for your losses. Unfortunately, while Colorado insurers are required to offer uninsured motorist coverage, you aren’t required to buy it and can choose to opt out in writing. If you opted out, you won’t have any obvious place to turn to get paid for your damages.
If you didn’t opt out, a Denver hit and run lawyer at Dan Caplis Law Firm will help you make a compelling case to your insurer to maximize your chances of full and fair compensation. We are ready to stand up to big insurance companies and ensure you get the full payment you need to cover all your losses if your insurer tries to pay less than you deserve.
Our legal team can also help you determine if any other defendants could potentially be to blame, in whole or in part, for your injuries — such as the designer of the road, those responsible for maintaining it, or your vehicle manufacturer. This can be especially important in cases where you don’t have uninsured motorist coverage and the other driver isn’t located.
Why You Should Trust Dan Caplis Law with Your Denver Hit-and-Run Case
At Dan Caplis Law, our hit-and-run accident attorneys in Denver have the experience and compassion necessary to help you maximize the chances of a successful outcome when you’ve been harmed by a hit-and-run driver.
From gathering police reports, body camera, electronic vehicle data, and scene inspections to helping you prove the extent of your losses with medical records, a pain journal, and expert witnesses, our firm will be there for you from day one.
Our firm also charges fees only if we help you get compensated, so you have nothing to lose by getting a skilled advocate on your side. Give us a call today at (303) 770-5551 to speak with a Denver hit-and-run accident lawyer to learn more about the assistance we can offer.