Hit and Run Accident
New York Car Accident Lawyer representing injured victims of Hit and Run Accidents
When you suffer an injury in a hit and run car accident, you may be wondering how you will pay for your damages. New York No-Fault Insurance Law provide compensation for your injuries to a point, but if your damages exceed your policy limits, there is no other driver to hold liable. However, you do have other options. For help, contact Personal Injury Lawyer Brooklyn NY of The Rybak Firm, PLLC.
First Steps after Hit and Run Accident in New York
While waiting for help to arrive, try to remember any details about the driver and vehicle that caused the Auto Accident. This information, along with testimony from any witnesses, will be invaluable in locating the at-fault driver. The police will assess the scene and collect the necessary information to complete a hit and run accident report.
Once you begin treatment for your injuries, you should review your insurance policy to determine what coverage you have. If you suffer more serious injuries, your standard New York auto insurance policy is unlikely to cover the extent of your damages. Rest assured, there are other options to pursue beyond your basic policy.
Insurance Options for Recovery after a Hit and Run Accident
Your basic New York auto insurance policy must carry two types of protection for hit and run accident. The first is your basic personal injury protection (PIP) benefits, which covers the first $50,000 of your injuries. The other is uninsured/underinsured motorists (UM/UIM) coverage. You must also carry a minimum of $50,000 coverage.
You can also purchase Supplementary Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists (SUM) coverage. You can purchase SUM coverage up to the limits of your bodily insurance policy.
You have the option to make these limits higher on your policy, but if you only carried the minimum at the time of the hit and run, you are stuck with that minimum amount of coverage. If you purchased the Additional PIP benefits, you would have those limits to add to your coverage as well.
Other Compensation Options Following Hit And Run
After you have exhausted your car insurance coverage, you might be able to file a claim for damages under a special law called The Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Act. This law, specific to New York, provides compensation to uninsured victims of a hit and run accident and other similar car accidents where the at-fault driver’s insurance or identity is unavailable.
The Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (MVAIC) protects victims of hit and run accident, people who do not carry insurance, and people who do not own or regularly operate a vehicle are unlikely to carry motor vehicle insurance. To recover compensation under the Act, you will file a claim with the MVAIC.
Note: It is ill advised to handle a MVAIC claim alone; they are notoriously complicated. Call Hit and Run Attorney of The Rybak Firm, PLLC., for help.
Another caveat to recovering damages with the MVAIC is that you meet the requirements of their definition of a car accident. According to New York’s Insurance Law § 5217, to qualify for benefits, you must have experienced physical contact between the at-fault vehicle and your body or the vehicle you were riding in at the time of the crash. Proving the hit and run vehicle actually struck you will require evidence such as:
- Video footage of the accident
- Assessment of physical damage to you or a vehicle
- Medical records
- Witness statements
- Police reports
Under the MVAIC, you can collect $25,000 per individual injured person and $50,000 per accident.
Car Accident Lawyer Near Me
Our offices are located in Brooklyn, NY. We serve the whole NYC Metro Area and represent clients in every borough of New York City. Our Car Accident Lawyers are able to travel to you if you are unable to meet at our offices due to an injury. We also provide free transportation to and from our offices.
Our office address is:
1810 Voorhies Ave
Suite #7
Brooklyn, NY 11235