Personal Injury and Hit-and-Run Accidents: Here’s What You Need to Know

Hit and run accidents can be ruinous physically and take a significant emotional and financial toll. If you’ve sustained a serious personal injury thanks to a hit-and-run driver, it’s paramount to know your rights so you can get properly compensated. Here are the essential things you need to know so you can get the just compensation you deserve.

Injured in an accident? Contact Eden Rafferty at (508) 210-1416 today for a free consultation.

What Classifies as a Hit and Run Accident?

A hit-and-run accident occurs when a vehicle hits a person, vehicle, or object, and the driver knowingly leaves the scene without providing their information. These accidents can range from minor to life-threatening. These are the most common types of hit and run accidents:

• Drunk driving accidents
• Head-on collisions
• Rear-end collisions
• High-speed collisions
• Side-impact collisions
• Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
• Distracted driving accidents

It should be noted that there is an exception to this classification. This is if a driver damages a vehicle or object when no one is around, and he leaves a note and files a police report afterward. Such a scenario is generally not considered a hit-and-run offense, even though the driver left the scene of the accident.

Regardless of the specifics of your accident, as a hit-and-run victim, you should always be sure to hire an experienced lawyer who specializes in this field. With an experienced Massachusetts personal injury attorney at your side, you’ll shore up your chances of receiving the full compensation for the harm you’ve gone through.

Massachusetts State Laws Pertaining to Hit-and-Run Accidents

In Massachusetts, penalties for this type of offense can vary depending on the circumstances of the accident. Under state law, it’s a misdemeanor offense to cause damage to a vehicle or other property and leave the scene. For this offense, the driver can be subject to a small fine, imprisonment, or both.

When it comes to more severe accidents, drivers that leave the scene of an accident that results in another person’s death, or even just injuries, are committing a potential felony offense under Massachusetts car accident law. If convicted, the driver faces a steeper fine and possibly imprisonment in state prison, jail, or house of correction.

What to Do as the Victim of a Hit-and-Run Accident

If you’re not seriously injured and are aware of your surroundings, you should try to get as much information about the driver, car, and the accident itself. This includes the driver’s license plate number, make, model, and color of their car, location, time, and cause of the incident.

Don’t follow the fleeing driver, as this could put you in an even riskier position. Additionally, if you do so, you’ll miss the opportunity to obtain contact details from any witnesses that saw the accident. The best thing is to call 911 to report the incident to the police and receive prompt medical treatment.

Contact a Trusted Law Firm to Get Compensated for Your Injuries

A hit-and-run accident can be a traumatic experience that can change your life forever. That’s why you need the best lawyers by your side if you find yourself in such a situation.

If you’re looking for skilled lawyers who will deal with your legal needs personally and on whom you can always rely, contact our top personal injury attorney Richard Rafferty at (508) 210-1416 for a free consultation.