Albuquerque Hit and Run Accident Lawyer Gets Justice for Victims
New Mexico drivers are required to remain on the scene of an accident, render aid to the injured, and identify themselves to others involved in the accident. Shockingly, many do not, leaving the injured victim unattended and seemingly without recourse. If you or a loved one has experienced the trauma of a hit and run, you may fear you have no chance of a financial settlement. That is not true. Hit and run cases are not hopeless when you have a skilled Albuquerque hit and run accident lawyer on your side.
Hit and run accidents are usually the fault of the fleeing driver, who will be legally liable for your injuries. When the driver is apprehended, he or she may be prosecuted for a crime. The criminal case may bring you the satisfaction of seeing the driver punished, but it will not bring you the compensation you deserve. You will need to pursue a separate civil action with help from a hit and run injury attorney in Albuquerque.
Even when the driver cannot be found, other sources of compensation may be available to you. Albuquerque hit and run accident lawyer Salim Khayoumi can find these sources and help you recover the maximum compensation possible from a hit and run accident.
What Is a Hit and Run Accident
A hit and run accident occurs when the driver of a motor vehicle strikes another motor vehicle (whether it is moving or parked), motorcycle/moped, or person, and flees the scene. Contact with the fleeing driver’s vehicle is not always necessary, however. For example, another driver may run you off the road.
If the driver who caused the accident can be identified, you will be entitled to pursue a claim against him or her. The driver’s automobile liability insurance will be crucial in providing the funds necessary to cover your injuries and other damages.
If the Driver Is Uninsured or Is Not Found
Unfortunately, sometimes the hit and run driver is never found. Even when the hit and run driver is identified, he or she may not have any insurance or enough insurance to cover your injuries. Lack of insurance is one of the reasons drivers flee.
When adequate compensation cannot be recovered from the driver, a knowledgeable hit and run accident attorney in Albuquerque will investigate and pursue other sources. For instance, you may have underinsured or uninsured coverage through (1) your own automobile insurance (even if your vehicle was not involved in the accident), (2) the policy of the person driving the car in which you were a passenger, (3) the policy of a relative who owns a car and lives with you, or (4) through some other automobile policy naming you as an insured.
Uninsured motorist insurance covers you when the person who caused the accident has no insurance or can’t be found. Underinsured motorist insurance covers you when the person who caused the accident has insufficient insurance to cover your injuries. The insurance company pays you the damages that you would have received from the driver’s insurance (subject to deductibles and policy limits). In New Mexico, this coverage is offered with every automobile policy and the policyholder must expressly waive it to have it omitted from the policy.
Other avenues of recovery might be available, too, such as health insurance or medical payments insurance. If a death has occurred, life insurance may be a factor in obtaining the necessary financial assistance.
Get Help from a Hit and Run Injury Attorney in Albuquerque
Albuquerque hit and run accident lawyer Salim Khayoumi will work hard to protect you and your family from bearing the costs of a hit and run accident. You can trust him to investigate your accident, find witnesses, preserve evidence, and pursue all possible sources of recovery. To schedule a consultation, call The Khayoumi Law Firm in Albuquerque at (505) 333-8613 or CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT A SIMPLE CASE FORM.
