Two recent hit and run pedestrian accidents raises an important question: “Who pays for injuries to the victim of hit and run pedestrian accidents?” The primary objective is to identify the driver of the vehicle who caused the injuries, and hold them accountable. In many cases, local police or the CHP identify the vehicle and driver involved in hit and run pedestrian accidents, and the first source of recovery is the driver’s auto insurance liability policy.
What happens when the person who caused the accident cannot be identified? Many people do not know that your own Uninsured/Under-Insured Motorist or UM/UIM coverage in your automobile insurance policy provides financial recovery for injuries and damages associated with pedestrian and motor vehicle related hit and run accidents. If you are injured as a pedestrian by a hit and run driver, it is your own UM/UIM that will pay for your medical bills, lost wages and other damages. This is why it is so important to maximize the amount of UM/UIM coverage available on your policy.
UM/UIM is one of the least expensive forms of insurance you can purchase, and a few extra dollars a month often are the difference between bankruptcy and having the means to recover from an accident. UM/UIM covers you in accidents caused by those without insurance, hit and run drivers, and those who carry minimal insurance, such as the state minimum. Many of our clients in my 40+ years of experience are shocked by the behavior of their own insurance company when they file a claim. They are treated poorly by their own adjuster, and offered a low amount compared to what they should rightfully recover in these situations.
We stand up for injured clients, and hold insurance companies accountable when our clients are injured in hit and run pedestrian accidents, or motor vehicle crashes that involve drivers without insurance or those with minimal coverage. We invite victims of hit and run pedestrian accidents, and those injured by uninsured or under-insured drivers to contact us for a free consultation at (949)305-1400. We work on a contingency fee basis, so there is no cost to you out of pocket.
