Navigating the Aftermath: Your Guide to Hit and Run Car Accidents in Chicago, IL

A hit and run occurs when a motor vehicle collides with another vehicle, a pedestrian, or a stationary object and leaves the scene without stopping. The injuries caused by hit and run accidents can be devastating. To make matters worse, if no witnesses are present, identifying the perpetrator can be extremely difficult, making it hard for victims to pursue justice and achieve closure.

Illinois law mandates that drivers remain at the scene of a car accident and provide their information to the other parties involved. This is true in cases involving death or personal injury along with cases that only result in property damage. They must also help anyone who was hurt. If a driver hits a parked vehicle, they must notify the owner of that vehicle in person or in writing, again providing their name, contact information, and insurance details. In a recent year, there were 37,226 hit and run crashes in Chicago alone, killing 36 and injuring 4,807. If you’ve been injured in a hit and run accident in Chicago, contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. to learn more about your legal options in a free consultation.

How Working with an Experienced Hit and Run Car Accident Lawyer Can Make a Difference

Vehicle collisions can have immediate and long-term consequences that significantly impact a victim’s life. A hit and run accident can be especially traumatizing because the at-fault driver’s identity isn’t known. This uncertainty, on top of the medical expenses and property damage resulting from the collision, can be hard to accept.

If you’re recovering from a hit and run car accident, the thought of also having to go through a complex legal process can add an unwanted layer of stress. This is why retaining an experienced car accident lawyer can provide relief.

When you contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., you can trust our team to put our decades of experience to work in seeking the compensation and justice you deserve. We’ve recovered more than $2.5 billion for Illinois injury victims and won multi-million-dollar settlements for more than 350 clients and counting. We’re ready to make a difference in your hit and run claim by handling the entire legal process so you can focus on your healing.

Understanding Your Rights and Legal Options After a Hit and Run Accident

If you’ve been injured in a hit and run incident due to another driver’s careless actions, you have the right to pursue compensation for your injuries. Thankfully, your attorney knows how to approach this process efficiently and thoroughly.

For hit and run victims, the key step is to identify and notify the at-fault party. Your car accident lawyer (and the police) will review eyewitness testimony, the police report, surveillance footage, and any other available evidence to determine the identity of the hit and run driver.

Whether they’re able to do so will impact how they approach the process of seeking compensation on your behalf.

There are two ways you can pursue compensation in Illinois. If the hit and run driver is identified, you can bring a claim against their insurance provider and potentially pursue a personal injury lawsuit if their proposed settlement is less than you feel you deserve. If they can’t identify the other driver, you can file an uninsured motorist claim through your own insurance provider. Illinois law requires drivers to carry uninsured motorist insurance, which also protects you in the event of a hit and run.

You must take prompt legal action following a hit and run. Illinois’s statute of limitations allows a two-year period to file a personal injury lawsuit. That means you have two years from the injury date to pursue legal action against the hit and run driver. The sooner you retain an attorney, the more quickly they can get to work researching the incident and taking the necessary legal steps to move your case forward.

The Claims Process: What Happens After a Hit and Run

As soon as you’ve received medical care, you must report the hit and run accident to both the police and your auto insurance company. The police need to be aware of the incident to conduct an investigation and hopefully identify the other driver.

Your insurance company may have a window of time in which you’re required to notify them of any collisions. Failing to do so promptly may jeopardize your ability to file a claim.

Once these parties have been notified, your attorney will begin the time-consuming process of gathering evidence related to the collision. They’ll speak with eyewitnesses, access and review any available security camera footage, gather physical evidence from the scene, and thoroughly investigate the collision to identify the hit and run driver. Your attorney’s efforts will be critical as you pursue compensation, so it’s worth prioritizing the selection of a skilled attorney following the incident.

Call a Chicago Hit and Run Car Accident Attorney Today

When you’ve been hurt in a hit and run accident in Chicago, you deserve the financial compensation necessary to heal from your injuries — and you deserve the space to focus on your physical recovery without the additional burden of navigating the legal process. This is where professional legal assistance makes such a difference. Your attorney can help you pursue the rightful compensation you deserve, thanks to their knowledge and experience with the legal system.

After a hit and run crash, you have the right to pursue compensation for your injuries and property damage. When you contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. for a free consultation,

we’ll hear your story, review your legal options, and help you determine the best next step for your case. Reach out today by phone or online for immediate assistance. We look forward to telling you more about how we’ll fight for the justice you deserve.