If you were in a hit and run accident, you may be left wondering whether it’s still possible to seek recovery. You may still have options for compensation. However, where you seek that payout depends on whether you can identify the driver and what insurance coverage applies. If you can’t identify the driver, you may seek compensation through your own insurance. If you can identify them, you may also file a claim against the fleeing driver. As a Houston hit and run lawyer, Ryan Nguyen is ready to help you move forward, even when a negligent driver tries to run from responsibility.
Ryan can review the facts and gather key evidence to help identify the driver and explore potential compensation sources.
Do This Right After a Hit and Run
After a hit and run in Houston, taking prompt action can protect your claim and prioritize your safety. First, you should call the police to report that the other driver fled the scene. Do not chase the fleeing driver.
You should also seek medical attention, even if you feel fine. You might not know the extent of your injuries when you still have adrenaline from the crash. Getting medical care also helps document your injuries and treatment.
Record as much identifying information as you can remember, including the vehicle’s description, license plate information, and direction of travel. When it is safe, photograph the scene, including vehicle damage. Collect witnesses’ contact information, and note nearby surveillance cameras that may have captured the crash so you can request footage before it is overwritten.
Contact your insurer right away. Once you’ve taken these steps, the next question is where compensation may come from.
If the Driver Is Never Found: Review Your Insurance Options
If the driver who hit you is never identified, you may still have options for compensation through your own insurance. The coverage available depends on your policy and the circumstances of the crash.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Uninsured motorist coverage, or UM coverage, may cover injuries caused by a hit and run driver. For UM claims involving an unidentified driver, Texas law requires actual physical contact between the unidentified vehicle and you or your property. If your policy includes uninsured motorist property damage coverage, it may also pay for vehicle damage. When this coverage is included, Texas Insurance Code § 1952.105 sets minimum limits of $30,000 per person and $60,000 total per accident for bodily injury. It also sets a minimum limit of $25,000 per accident for property damage, with a $250 deductible.
Personal Injury Protection and Medical Payments Coverage
Personal injury protection, or PIP, may pay for medical expenses, a portion of lost wages, and certain other injury-related costs regardless of who caused the crash. The minimum limit for PIP coverage starts at $2,500. This is a combined limit for all covered benefits. Moreover, medical payments coverage, often called MedPay, helps pay medical bills but does not provide the lost-wage benefits that PIP offers. Insurers are not required to offer MedPay.
These coverages do not pay for every type of loss. For example, neither PIP nor MedPay covers vehicle damage or pain and suffering.
Collision Coverage
Collision coverage may pay to repair or replace your vehicle after a hit and run, subject to your deductible and the vehicle’s actual cash value. Your own liability-only insurance generally does not pay to repair your vehicle. Rather, liability coverage pays for injuries and property damage you cause to others.
If the Driver Is Identified: Pursue a Claim Against the Driver
Working with a hit and run lawyer early can help preserve evidence that may identify the fleeing driver. That evidence may include:
- Findings from the police investigation
- Witness statements
- Surveillance footage
- License plate information
- Other evidence from the crash scene
If you identify the driver and evidence shows they caused the crash, you may be able to recover compensation through their liability insurance. If you can’t reach a settlement, you may be able to sue the driver.
Identifying the driver does not guarantee that they have insurance or sufficient assets to pay a claim. If they are uninsured or their coverage does not fully cover your losses, Ryan can review whether your own insurance or other sources may provide compensation.
How a Houston Hit and Run Lawyer Can Help
How does a hit and run lawyer help after a crash? As a seasoned Houston car accident attorney, Ryan Nguyen can investigate the crash, work to identify the driver who fled, and secure time-sensitive evidence before it disappears.
He can also review your insurance policies, identify potential sources of compensation, and handle communications with insurers. From negotiating a settlement to taking your case to trial when appropriate, Ryan works to protect your claim and meet applicable deadlines.
That support also means keeping you informed and helping you understand what comes next. Paul J., a client injured in a hit and run, described his experience working with Ryan in a five-star review:
“I was involved in a hit and run car accident, and from the very beginning Ryan was there for me every step of the way. During an extremely scary and stressful time, he made sure I never felt lost or in the dark. Ryan was transparent, honest, and communicated with me consistently throughout the entire process…If you are ever involved in a car accident and need a personal injury attorney who truly cares and will fight for you, I highly recommend Ryan.” — Paul J.
Ryan wants to provide that same level of care to your personal injury claim. If you’re unsure where to turn after a hit and run, Ryan can help you understand your options and decide how to proceed.
Speak to a Hit and Run Lawyer for Free
If you were in a crash and the driver fled, you can still seek compensation, even if you never identify the driver. Reach out to Ryan Nguyen to review the available evidence, evaluate potential insurance coverage, and discuss the deadlines and next steps that may apply to your claim.
Ryan earned his nickname, The Falcon, because he fights to capture wrongdoers even when they try to flee responsibility. Book a free consultation.
