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A car accident is one of the scariest moments in anyone’s life. It can cause permanent physical injuries and lasting emotional scars. What makes a car accident even worse is when the at-fault driver leaves you to deal with the aftermath and foot the bill. Unfortunately, hit and run accidents are common in densely populated areas, such as Washington, DC -- in 2015 there were almost 5,000 hit and run accidents in the district. You may need the help of an experienced hit and run accident attorney to help you with your case.
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After a hit and run accident, you may feel overwhelmed. In addition to physical injuries and financial debt, you also have to answer all the unknowns – when will I be able to return to work? Can I afford a rental car while mine is being repaired? How will we catch the driver who hit me? How will I pay for the medical expenses that are piling up?
There is good news – you don’t have to walk through this process alone. The hit and run attorneys at Regan Zambri Long PLLC are hands-on lawyers who will not only passionately fight for your rights in the courtroom, but help guide you through this journey every step of the way. They will negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf so you can focus on getting your life back on track.
Past clients agree that you are treated like family at Regan Zambri Long. You can trust the expertise of our attorneys, which will reduce the enormous stress following a hit and run car accident. The initial consultation is free and the attorneys do not collect a fee unless a settlement or verdict is reached in your favor.
According to the Washington, DC Department of Motor Vehicles, Washington, DC, which is only 68 square miles, had over 298,000 registered vehicles in 2021. This number does not include the thousands of cars that pour in every day for tourism, political engagements, and work. What happens when a large number of cars drive in a small area? That’s right – a large number of car accidents.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department, traffic fatalities have been on the rise for the past three years. In 2021, there were 40 traffic fatalities, the highest it’s been since 2008. The main cause of crashes is distracted driving. Distracted driving is anything that takes your focus off the road, like eating, putting on makeup, talking to a passenger, or trying to use your navigation system. The biggest culprit of distracted driving, however, is using your cell phone. Texting while driving is extremely dangerous and should be avoided.
Another cause of hit and run accidents in Washington, DC is drowsy driving. Washington, DC’s truck routes extend out to Virginia and Maryland, which are truck route hubs. Truck drivers are unfortunately known to drive while drowsy in order to make deadlines on deliveries. Drowsy driving slows reaction times and causes drivers to fall asleep at the wheel, which can result in deadly crashes.
Other common causes of car accidents are drunk driving, speeding, reckless driving, poor weather, poor conditions on the road, and vehicle defects.
One of the main reasons a hit and run driver flees the scene of an accident is because they were drinking and driving. Washington, DC has very strict laws regarding driving while intoxicated, including up to 90 days in jail, fines, and a revoked license.
Another reason people leave the scene of a car accident is if they are driving without a valid license, or driving without insurance. Washington, DC fell into the top ten jurisdictions in the United States for people who drive without insurance in 2019. The driver may know they cannot pay for the damages without insurance coverage, so they decide to run instead.
Sometimes drivers flee because they have illegal drugs in their car, or are driving a stolen or borrowed car. There are even drivers who do not stop at the scene of the accident because they don’t believe the accident was their fault. This is why it is essential that you remain where you are following the accident.
It’s common to be in a state of shock right after being involved in a car accident. Adrenaline pumps through your body and puts you into “fight or flight mode,” which is how humans respond to very stressful events. This response is involuntary, but it’s important to know that it can mask the pain from injuries. So, the most important thing to do following a car accident with a hit and run driver is to pull over and stop the vehicle. Do not try to chase after the car that hit you. It can be dangerous to confront the driver and if you leave the scene too, it will be more difficult to prove who was at fault for the accident.
The second step is to call the police, especially if there are visible injuries that need immediate care. The police will be able to get the medical assistance you need and begin to investigate the scene of the accident. They will speak to any eyewitnesses and generate a police report, which will be very important in your claim. If you speak to any witnesses, make sure to take down their contact information. Their testimony may be helpful during the claims process.
Next, you need to gather evidence. Take note of where the accident occurred and check to see if there are any security cameras that may have captured the accident. If you were able to get a glance at the car that hit you, write down the color of the car, the make and model, and the license plate number. Note what direction the car was headed in, or if you think it had any damage from the accident. For example, if the car hit you from behind, tell the police officers that they will look for a car that will most likely have damage on its front bumper. Be sure to include all information from eyewitnesses, as well.
When you get home, you will need to contact your insurance company to begin the process of filing a claim. The statute of limitations to file a claim after a hit and run accident is three years. This may seem like a long time, but it’s always better to file a claim quickly so that facts and memories are fresh in your mind. Medical bills pile up quickly following a car accident, so the earlier you file a claim, the earlier you can receive compensation to help offset medical and property damage costs.
Finally, you should contact an experienced hit and run lawyer at Regan Zambri Long to help guide you through the personal injury claim process. Insurance companies are not known for handling claims in the best interest of their clients. After reporting the accident to your insurance agency, you will then speak to an adjuster. The adjuster’s job is to save as much money as possible for the insurance company. Many adjusters use manipulation tactics to keep compensation very low. The Regan Zambri Long attorneys understand the ins and outs of various insurance policies, and are experts in Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland laws. They will work diligently to secure the maximum amount of compensation for your case and help guide you to financial recovery. Call 202-960- 4596 for your free consultation and to discuss your legal options.
Regan Zambri Long lawyers have over 100 years of combined experience and have secured over $650 million for their clients throughout the years. They understand that they are meeting their clients during a time of intense stress and emotional trauma–that everything has changed in a matter of seconds and their goal is to help you get back to normal as quickly as possible. Patrick Regan, President and Senior Partner at Regan Zambri Long, puts it this way: “The most important thing about clients – no matter how much anyone likes you, they don’t want to be your client for one minute longer than necessary. People walk into law offices to get results, problems resolved.”
The car accident attorneys at Regan Zambri Long are often referred to by other lawyers and judges around the country. Some personal injury cases require long-term commitments and extensive resources that other firms may not have. Regan Zambri Long has the financial backing to take on complex cases and will see your case through to the very end. Initial consultations are free and our lawyers only collect a fee if a settlement or verdict is reached in your favor.
When you get into an accident with a hit and run driver, the insurance claims process is a little more complex. If the police find the driver, then you can file a claim with that driver’s insurance company. However, what happens if the driver is not found?
In Washington, DC, all motorists are required to carry uninsured and underinsured insurance. If you get into a hit and run and the driver is not found, you may have to file an underinsured/uninsured claim with your own insurance company.
This could be difficult so it’s best to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer at Regan Zambri Long. Your lawyer will contact the insurance company after you do and let them know they are representing you. From there, the insurance company will know that any contact should be through your attorney, not with you directly. This allows you to rest, heal, and recover from the accident.
Your attorney will proceed to negotiate with the insurance company for the highest possible settlement, including compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and emotional anguish. If the insurance company agrees to the demands your lawyer presents, then a settlement will be reached. If not, your attorney can file a suit in court.
A settlement is reached if the insurance company agrees to pay the full amount of compensation owed to you following an accident. However, insurance companies are notorious for trying to pay the bare minimum of what is owed to you. If that’s the case, your claim will go to court where a judge or jury will decide the verdict. Regan Zambri Long car accident attorneys have recovered millions for their clients, both in settlements and in verdicts. They prepare every case as if it’s going to trial, and they have the financial backing to take on large insurance companies in court. Rest assured, if a settlement cannot be reached and you decide to take your claim to court, your lawyer will be with you, and advocating for you, until the very end of the process.
It is considered a hit and run when a driver hits you and then drives away. Hit and run accidents can also be when the driver who hit you abandons the car and takes off on foot. If your car is parked and was hit by another driver and the at-fault driver does not provide contact information (or gives you false information), that could also be considered a hit and run.
Yes. There are two crimes the offender can be charged with after leaving the scene of an accident in Washington, DC. If the offender caused damage to your vehicle then fled the scene, they can be charged with “leaving after colliding, property damage,” which has a penalty of up to 90 days in jail and a $500 fine. If the hit and run accident caused an injury, then the individual would be charged with “leaving after colliding, personal injury,” which is up to 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
The law states that the people involved in an accident must call the police after the crash and also wait until the police arrive. This is why it is extremely important to remain at the scene of the accident and not try to chase after the driver who hit you.
Washington, DC is one of the five jurisdictions that uses contributory negligence instead of comparative negligence laws. Virginia and Maryland also use contributory negligence laws. Contributory negligence means if you are found to have any fault in the accident then you cannot file a claim for compensation. This is another reason why it’s essential to have a Regan Zambri Long hit and run accident lawyer represent you. Your lawyer will work to prove the other driver fled the scene of the accident because they were entirely at fault.
There are three different types of damages you can recover from a hit and run accident:
Economic Damages: Economic damages cover all expenses that you incur because of the accident, such as medical bills, property damages, and wages.
Non-Economic Damages: These damages are often called “intangible” damages, since they have no set monetary value. However, they cause huge lifestyle changes and add pain to the victim’s life. They include:
Punitive Damages: There are three types of punitive damages the victim can collect. They are:
There are several different injuries you can sustain from a car accident, whether it’s a fender bender or a major collision. The most common types of injuries are:
If you or someone you love is a victim of a hit and run accident, call 202-960-4596 to learn how the attorneys at Regan Zambri Long may be able to help you through these difficult times and seek compensation for your injuries and losses. Our consultations are free.
