Struck as a Pedestrian by a Hit-and-Run Driver in Virginia? You May Still Have Options

Every so often, we get what I call a “last resort” phone call at The Thomson Law Firm.

It usually comes from a worried friend or family member of someone who was seriously hurt in a pedestrian hit-and-run accident. The injured person has often already lost hope. They assume that because the driver fled the scene and was never found, there is no way to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, or future treatment.

But in many cases, that is not true.

If you were struck as a pedestrian by a hit-and-run driver in Virginia, there may still be a path to compensation—even if the at-fault driver is never identified.

Can You Recover Compensation After a Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accident?

Many injured pedestrians believe they are simply out of luck if police never locate the driver. Fortunately, Virginia law and insurance policies often provide another option: uninsured motorist (UM) coverage.

If the injured pedestrian had their own automobile insurance policy at the time of the crash, or if they were a resident relative living in the household of someone who had an auto policy, there may be uninsured motorist coverage available.

That surprises a lot of people.

In fact, many accident victims—and even some insurance agents or adjusters—do not realize that Virginia uninsured motorist coverage can apply to a pedestrian hit-and-run accident.

How Uninsured Motorist Coverage Works in a Hit-and-Run Case

Uninsured motorist coverage exists to protect you when the person who caused your injuries:

• Has no insurance, or
• Flees the scene and is never identified

That second category is critical in a hit-and-run pedestrian accident claim.

If a driver runs you over and disappears, your own policy (or a household family member’s policy) may step in to provide compensation for:

• Emergency room and hospital bills
• Ongoing medical treatment
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Lost income from missed work
• Pain and suffering
• Future medical care or permanent injuries

This can be life-changing for someone facing serious injuries and mounting bills.

Why You Still Need a Lawyer for an Uninsured Motorist Claim

A lot of people hear this and think: “That’s great—my own insurance company will take care of me.”

Unfortunately, that is often not how it works.

Once you make an uninsured motorist claim, your insurance company is no longer acting like your helpful provider. In reality, you become adverse to your own insurer.

That means they often treat your case the same way they would treat a claim made against one of their insured drivers.

If the claim cannot be resolved fairly, a lawsuit may need to be filed against “John Doe” or “Jane Doe” (the unknown hit-and-run driver). And when that happens, your insurance company may hire a lawyer to defend that case—paid by the insurer—to try to reduce or deny your recovery.

In other words: the company you paid premiums to for years may fight your injury claim just like any other defendant.

That is exactly why it is so important to have an experienced Virginia pedestrian accident lawyer on your side.

Call The Thomson Law Firm if You Were Hit by a Run Driver

If you or someone you love was struck as a pedestrian by a hit-and-run driver in Roanoke or anywhere in Virginia, do not assume there is no case.

At The Thomson Law Firm, we understand how to investigate these claims, identify available uninsured motorist coverage, and deal with insurance companies that would rather pay as little as possible.

Before you give up, make the call. The call is free.

You may have more rights than you think.

Call The Thomson Law Firm today for a free consultation.

The post Struck as a Pedestrian by a Hit-and-Run Driver in Virginia? You May Still Have Options appeared first on Roanoke Virginia Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers.

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