Undefeated Odessa Hit & Run Accident Attorney
Being injured in any car accident in Odessa, TX, can be scary and stressful. If you were involved in a hit and run accident, you may be feeling frustrated and hopeless, too. You may be left with the following questions:
- Who will pay for my medical bills?
- Can I still recover compensation for my injuries and other losses?
- Will someone find the hit-and-run driver?
Reaching out to an experienced hit-and-run accident lawyer as soon as possible can help you get your case on the right track. Look no further than Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers; our top-rated attorneys have secured billions for our clients.
To discuss your case with an unbeaten Odessa hit-and-run accident attorney, contact our office online or call us today. Your initial consultation is free of charge.
Table of Contents
- How Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers Can Help if You’ve Been Injured in a Hit and Run Accident in Odessa, TX
- What Is a Hit and Run Accident?
- What Should I Do After an Odessa Hit and Run Accident?
- Can I Still Recover Compensation in Texas if Police Don’t Find the Hit and Run Accident Driver?
- How Long Do I Have To File a Hit and Run Accident Lawsuit in Texas?
- Contact Our Record-Setting Odessa Hit and Run Accident Lawyers Today
How Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers Can Help if You’ve Been Injured in a Hit and Run Accident in Odessa, TX
Our undefeated Odessa car accident attorneys have recovered 5 of the largest verdicts and settlements ever awarded in Texas and the #1 largest accident verdict in state history. You can count on us to bring our decades of combined experience to bear in your case.
While fighting for you to receive full compensation for your injuries, we’ll take the following steps:
- Investigate the accident to identify the at-fault party
- Gather evidence to support your claims
- Track down witnesses and collect their statements
- Assess your damages
- Hire expert witnesses to bolster your case
- Contact the insurance company to negotiate a settlement on your behalf
- Take your case to court, if necessary
To learn more about how our experienced personal injury attorneys in Odessa, Texas, can help you, reach out today for a free case review.
What Is a Hit and Run Accident?
A hit and run accident occurs when a driver is involved in an accident and flees the scene without exchanging information with the other driver or waiting on law enforcement, if necessary. A hit and run can involve two or more cars, or it may also involve a car and a pedestrian, bicyclist, and motorcyclist.
After a car accident, a driver must stop and exchange personal information with the other parties involved, including their name, contact information, vehicle registration number, insurance information, and driver’s license. If the accident was reasonably likely to cause injury, a driver must stop and render reasonable assistance, such as calling emergency services.
The failure to stop after an accident is a criminal offense in Texas. Failing to stop after an accident that did not cause injury is a misdemeanor. Failing to stop after an accident causing injury or death is a felony and can carry severe penalties.
What Should I Do After an Odessa Hit and Run Accident?
Immediately after any car accident, your priority should be the safety of yourself and others. Check yourself and others to see if anyone needs immediate medical assistance. If not, attempt to move your car out of traffic if it is safe to do so.
After a hit and run accident, it is also important to take immediate steps to identify the other driver once it is safe to do so. This may include:
- Looking for the hit and run driver’s license plate number and recording it
- Identifying the car’s make, model, and color
- Calling 911 or law enforcement to immediately report the accident
- Taking photos of the fleeing vehicle and the accident scene
- Writing down or recording your memory of the events in as much detail as you can recall
- Scan the area for any traffic cameras that may have captured the accident
- Collect the contact information of any witnesses who observed the accident
- Contact an experienced hit and run accident lawyer
Between increased security cameras, cell phones, and traffic cameras, there are more ways than ever today for hit and run drivers to be identified. However, it’s essential to act quickly, as security footage is only stored for a finite period of time, witnesses’ memories fade, and the trail can go cold.
Contact law enforcement and then an experienced Texas hit and run attorney as soon as possible will increase your chances of identifying the at-fault driver.
Can I Still Recover Compensation in Texas if Police Don’t Find the Hit and Run Accident Driver?
If you don’t find the other driver, you can’t file a claim against their insurance company. In this case, you can file a claim with your own insurance company under your uninsured motorist coverage.
Fortunately, this means you won’t be left completely high and dry if the police can’t find the hit and run driver. However, there are limits to uninsured motorist coverage.
First, the amount of coverage will be determined by your uninsured motorist policy limit, which may not be sufficient to cover your losses. Second, uninsured motorist coverage often only covers things like medical costs and property damage, and may not extend to other losses.
You may have other options as well, depending on your case. Consult with an experienced hit and run accident lawyer to discuss the potential avenues for compensation in your situation.
How Long Do I Have To File a Hit and Run Accident Lawsuit in Texas?
In Texas, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. A court may extend this deadline to the date you identify the hit and run driver, given that they concealed their identity by fleeing, but this isn’t guaranteed.
An experienced personal injury lawyer will try to identify the at-fault driver, file your case on time, and, if necessary, argue that an extension is warranted.
Contact Our Record-Setting Odessa Hit and Run Accident Lawyers Today
If you were injured in a hit and run accident in Odessa, contact Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means we only get paid if you do.
With decades of combined experience and billions obtained for our clients, you’ll be in good hands if you choose our undefeated Odessa hit and run accident lawyers. Contact us today at (888) 603-3636 to get started with a free consultation.