New Jersey Hit and Run Accident Lawyer

Why Choose Our Hit and Run Accident Attorney in New Jersey?

A serious car accident is always frightening and traumatic, especially when it causes serious injuries. It’s even more devastating when the responsible driver flees the scene of the accident. When an injury victim suffers severe or catastrophic injuries in a New Jersey car accident, they typically have the option of filing a lawsuit against the at-fault party if their damages far exceed the limits of their own personal injury protection (PIP) policy. But what are the options when the accident is a hit-and-run? 

If you or a close family member suffered injuries in a hit-and-run in New Jersey, call our New Jersey personal injury attorneys at Grungo Law so you can learn about your rights and protections.

New Jersey Prohibits Car Accident Victims From Leaving the Scene

Under New Jersey § 39:4-129, the law requires involved drivers to remain at the scene of any accident with any injuries, fatalities, or more than $250 in property damage. In other words, you must stay at the scene in nearly all accidents involving little more than a small scratch on a paint job. Leaving the accident scene before being cleared by the police is a crime.

Unfortunately, a study from AAA warns that one hit-and-run accident happens about every 43 seconds in the United States. This includes hit-and-run collisions with another vehicle and hit-and-run pedestrian accidents.

Why Do Some Drivers Hit-and-Run in New Jersey?

A car accident can cause some drivers to experience shock, and a rush of adrenaline that triggers a fight or flight response. In these cases, a driver may leave the scene of an accident but later return once the adrenaline subsides. Some New Jersey hit-and-run drivers who flee from fear or panic call to report their part in the accident later. Sadly, hit-and-run accidents more commonly occur for more nefarious reasons, including the following:

• The driver was intoxicated and feared a DUI arrest
• The driver lacks a valid driver’s license
• The driver is in the United States illegally
• The hit-and-run driver was carrying illegal drugs or weapons in their car
• There is a warrant on the driver for a previous illegal action

The above AAA study warns that hit-and-run accidents are on the rise across the U.S. The study also suggests that hit-and-runs cause worsened outcomes for severely injured car accident or pedestrian accident victims who are unable to call for help, when at the same time the less injured driver leaves the accident scene rather than calling to report the accident.

What to Do After a New Jersey Hit-and-Run Accident

Sometimes a car or pedestrian accident is so severe that an injury victim can do little other than wait for help. They may even be unconscious or incapacitated. However, if you or an uninjured companion can safely use a cell phone, it becomes a critical tool to take the following steps after a hit-and-run accident:

• If possible, quickly snap photos of the vehicle, license tag, and driver as they are leaving the accident scene
• Then, call 911 to report the accident, and tell the dispatcher that the other driver has fled
• Describe the hit-and-run vehicle, the driver, and the direction they were traveling when they left
• Take photos of the accident scene
• Take photos of any visible injuries
• If there are eyewitnesses, add their contact information to your phone

Always go directly to a hospital directly from the accident scene. Ask for a full medical assessment as well as treatment for your emergency injuries. A complete evaluation may catch and diagnose injuries with delayed symptoms. Delays in symptom presentation are not uncommon in whiplash, traumatic brain injuries, and internal bleeding.

Ask your doctor for a detailed medical report listing all of your injuries, the treatment recommended by your medical provider, and your prognosis. Call your insurance company to report that you were in a hit-and-run accident. Then, save copies of all medical bills, invoices, and receipts and obtain a copy of the police report. Finally, reach out to the New Jersey hit-and-run accident attorneys at Grungo Law.

What Are My Options After a Hit-and-Run Accident In New Jersey?

New Jersey is one of a handful of “no-fault” car accident states that seeks to save time, legal costs, and crowded court dockets by requiring drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) polices and file compensation claims against their own insurance regardless of which driver caused the accident. The state does allow lawsuits against an at-fault driver if the injury victim suffered catastrophic injuries or if the terms of their insurance policy allow this as an option.

New Jersey also requires drivers to carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. After a hit-and-run accident, your attorney from Grungo Law will pursue the best possible course of action, including the following:

• File a claim against your PIP coverage to recover medical expenses or funeral costs (if you are the surviving family member of a deceased car accident victim)
• If the police are able to identify the hit-and-run driver, you can recover compensation for your property damage through your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
• File a claim against your collision coverage
• File a claim or lawsuit against a third party that contributed to the cause or severity of the accident and injuries, such as a negligent road maintenance company or the manufacturer of a defective car part, seat belt, or air bag

It’s beneficial to remember that insurance companies often protect their profits at the injury victim’s expense. Without assertive legal representation, insurance companies often point their fingers at other policies after a hit-and-run or dispute, delay, and deny claims.

What Damages Can I Recover After a New Jersey Hit-and-Run?

Your New Jersey car accident lawyer will seek compensation for common car accident damages such as property damage to your vehicle, medical expenses, future medical expenses, lost earnings, and compensation for your pain and suffering. If a loved one died in a hit-and-run accident, the closest surviving family member may recover wrongful death benefits.

How Can a New Jersey Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer From Grungo Law Help?

Navigating a car accident claim with the goal of obtaining the maximum compensation is always a challenging legal endeavor; however, a hit-and-run accident escalates the complexity of the case, often ending with the injury victim absorbing the cost of an accident that was not their fault. Instead of leaving your case in the hands of the insurance company, call Grungo Law for assertive legal representation prioritizing your best interests throughout the process.