What If a Hit and Run Driver Hits My Parked Car?

If a vehicle strikes your parked car and then flees the scene, the driver is facing criminal charges. You should speak to the local police department and document what occurred. Depending on what happens from their investigation, you may be able to seek financial compensation against the at-fault driver or file a claim with your uninsured motorist coverage. 

This process can be a bit confusing, which is why consulting with a hit and run accident attorney in Chicago can help you understand your options and protect your rights. Here is what to expect.

Call the Police and Document the Accident Immediately

The first and most important step for you to take is to call the police. If you are safe, but see the accident occur, try to capture the car’s license plate or get a description of the other driver. Provide that information to the police. They will investigate and gather evidence. Even in a minor car accident, the law requires drivers to stop. If they fled, that is the reason to call the police.

You should do the same. Take photos of the damage to your vehicle and to the surrounding area. Be sure to get the name and contact information for anyone who stopped to help or saw what occurred.

If you were in the car at the time, make sure you get medical care immediately. You want to be sure that you do not have any serious injuries.

Contact Your Insurance Company

Your insurance company may help you cover the losses if you have an uninsured motorist insurance policy. This policy is one you purchased prior to the accident that covers your losses if someone causes damage to you and does not have insurance or does not stop.

At this initial stage, simply inform your insurance company of the accident. You should not file a claim or encourage the insurance company to close the case. Instead, just alert them to what occurred.

Hire a Hit and Run Attorney to Guide You

A hit and run lawyer will become your advocate in this process, providing you with guidance on what your rights are. It is critical that you take this step to protect your ability to recover damages. A Chicago personal injury attorney will be able to bring your case together, including:

• Investigate the accident thoroughly to try to determine who caused it
• Gather data to prove what your losses are, including assessing all rights you have to fair compensation
• Build a claim and handle your insurance company for you. This includes answering all of the insurance company’s questions and negotiating a fair level of compensation

In most situations, you can trust that the hit-and-run driver will be found by the police, and you will be able to file a claim against them for any losses you still have. The statute of limitations in Illinois for most cases like this is two years, which means if they are found later, you may still be able to pursue a lawsuit against that party. Your hit-and-run attorney will clarify what this means in your situation.

Working with a Chicago Hit and Run Lawyer Will Help Protect You

If a hit-and-run driver strikes your parked car, focus on your injury first. Then, seek medical help before contacting a car accident attorney in Chicago. You have the right to recover damages suffered, and your hit-and-run lawyer will help you to prove what those losses are to the fullest level allowed under the law.