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A hit-and-run accident can disrupt your life in unexpected ways. These situations can take a mental and emotional toll on you while you are dealing with physical injuries and financial strain. A hit and run accident lawyer in Providence works to minimize these effects on your life and help you navigate the challenges ahead.
With more than 100 years of combined experience, Gemma Law Firm fights to protect your rights and secure your future after you have suffered a hit-and-run accident.
We understand how unsettling and stressful these types of collisions can be, and our team is committed to securing results as swiftly as possible. With the help of a Providence car accident lawyer, you can receive the support and relief you need in such a difficult time.
What to Do After a Hit and Run Accident
Injuries from hit-and-run accidents can range from minor to severe and have significant implications for your future. You could suffer minor whiplash and some broken bones, or a traumatic brain injury and internal bleeding. Regardless of what type of injuries you have sustained, it is important to know how to handle injuries after a car accident.
Your first step should always be to seek medical attention for your injuries, no matter how minor. Your safety is the number one priority. It is also essential to file a police report to document the accident.
Provide as much detail as you can so they can also help find the person who collided with you. If possible, take photos of the damage to your vehicle, your injuries, and any relevant surroundings.
Once you have taken these initial steps, contact a hit and run accident attorney in Providence right away. They will work to help you find the person responsible and help you pursue compensation for your losses.
Your Providence personal injury lawyer will communicate with insurance companies and other applicable parties on your behalf to ensure you are not taken advantage of while trying to get compensation.
For a free legal consultation with a hit and run accident lawyer serving ProvidenceCall (401) 467-2300
Possible Reasons for Hit and Run Accidents
While leaving the scene of an accident without stopping is illegal in Rhode Island, according to R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-26-1, it unfortunately still happens far too often. There may be several reasons why another motorist may drive away after an accident.
One of the biggest reasons is that they are most likely uninsured and unable to pay for your damages. Other reasons may be that they fear repercussions from unsafe or illegal activities. A driver who is intoxicated, has a suspended license, or is avoiding law enforcement may not want to stick around for police to arrive at the scene.
Whatever the reason the other driver left, you have the right to hold them accountable if they are found. While they are likely to face criminal charges, you can also pursue civil action against them to recover the compensation you need to recoup your losses. Your lawyer will guide you through the process and advocate for you at every stage.
Providence Hit and Run Accident Lawyer Near Me (401) 467-2300
A Hit and Run Accident Lawyer in Providence Can Help You Recover Your Losses After an Accident
How you recover compensation and how much you can recover will depend on the circumstances you are facing. In the event that the driver can be caught, you can file an insurance or personal injury claim against them.
If this is not the case, you will have to file the claim under the applicable coverage that is appropriate for the situation. Depending on your options, you may be able to recover:
- Medical costs
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Diminished quality of life
- PTSD, anxiety, and depression
- Loss of enjoyment
- Emotional anguish
- Loss of companionship or consortium
Once your lawyer ascertains how you will recover your losses, they will help you determine how much your case is worth based on your injuries, how serious they are, and their potential future impact. They will calculate the value of your losses to ensure that your insurance settlement is reflective of your needs.
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Catastrophic Losses in a Hit and Run Accident
One of the reasons our legal team encourages you to have legal representation is because of these accidents, those that result in catastrophic injuries that will never fully improve.
Your life is forever changed by the carelessness of another person, and that simply is not fair. Expect our Providence hit and run accident lawyer to build a claim that incorporates your often more extensive losses.
Losses you may not think of or consider while you are recovering. On top of the previously mentioned losses, you may also receive compensation for:
- Long-term medical needs
- In-home care and support
- Modifications to your home
- Job retraining if you cannot do the same type of work
- Loss of quality of life due to the impact on your well-being
- Loss of career and earning power
- Pain and suffering that may extend throughout your lifetime, well beyond the current injury
In each of these cases, we want to build a claim that takes into consideration your current and your future losses. This must consider factors related to the accident, cutting your life short, or making it impossible for you to build the career or family you desired.
It is not fair, especially when you lose your mobility, hearing, vision, or other conditions. Let us become your advocates.
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What to Do If Your Family Member Loses Their Life in a Hit-and-Run Accident
Our Providence hit and run accident lawyer cannot make this a good outcome, but we can fight for justice and build a claim that makes sure the other party pays for what they did to you, your loved one, and your family.
If your family member died in a hit-and-run accident, seek our guidance as early as possible in the process. We can help in a number of ways:
- Determine all parties at fault. This is important in this type of claim when the losses can be so high.
- Fight the insurance company for truly fair compensation based on your loved one’s life, age, health, and prospective future.
- Document the impact this incident will have on your losses, as the family tries to move forward, including financial losses, loss of companionship, and pain and suffering.
- Provide you with compassion and support when you need it the most, so that you can focus on grieving and moving forward.
- Handle all aspects of the legal claim process, including going to court when we need to, in order to hold those who did this accountable.
You are not alone in this situation, and our hit and run accident lawyer in Providence will become the advocate you can rely on every step of the way. Set up some time to discuss your case with our team now. Let us offer guidance and support in this difficult situation.
The Statute of Limitations for Pursuing Recovery
Regardless of how you recover compensation after a hit-and-run accident, you are only allowed so much time to do so. Per R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14, you typically have three years from the time of the accident to file a claim. If you do not file in time, you could be barred from any future action. Your lawyer will verify your case and time limit prior to accepting your case.
There are exceptions to this rule that our legal team will consider in your situation. If you were a minor at the time of the incident or you were incapacitated for a significant length of time, that could play a role in your ability to recover damages in a timely manner, and the court will likely grant additional time. However, this is not commonly the best route to take.
It is essential that you not wait to take legal action, even though this timeframe seems long. The longer you wait to file a claim or seek a lawsuit, the harder it is to recover evidence to uphold your case.
Our legal team knows what you are facing and that you should not file a claim too soon. However, the sooner you act, the sooner you get the legal guidance you need.
Why Hit and Run Accidents Happen in East Providence
Hit and run accidents happen for multiple reasons, and when they happen, they can comprehensively change the path of your life. As your Providence hit and run accident lawyer, we know why they happen, how to build your case, and what value your claim should have.
nts often occur along Veterans Memorial Parkway and the surrounding areas near the parks. This often occurs when drivers cannot see well, leading to injuries.
- In some areas of the city, especially in the area of Pawtucket Avenue, we see drivers who hit and run when they are intoxicated. They fear what could happen and leave the scene of the accident.
- It is not uncommon for hit-and-run accidents to also occur on the highway, including Interstate 195. Here, drivers may strike another driver and then race off, not wanting to face the consequences of what occurred.
These are some of the major reasons why such incidents occur, but it is never acceptable, and it is always a high risk for physical complications and challenging liability claims.
As a Providence hit and run accident attorney, we will pursue an understanding of what happened and why as fully as possible, holding those who hurt you accountable.
Why Hit and Run Accidents Happen in North Providence
Hit and run accidents happen in North Providence for numerous reasons as well. Many times, victims face long-term recovery, or they lose their life due to fully preventable, reckless behavior.
Some examples of common causes of hit and run accidents in this area include:
- Accidents near schools often occur when a child runs out into the street or when parents are driving recklessly to pick up or drop off the child. The driver flees, unsure what to do.
- Neighborhood accidents, especially in the numerous residential accidents along Route 44, are very common. Victims may rear-end another person or strike a car pulling out of a driveway and then just flee instead of stopping.
- Drivers without insurance can sometimes also flee a hit-and-run accident, afraid of what may occur. They may fear losing their license, especially if the driver is a commercial operator commonly found along Route 44.
Our Providence hit and run accident lawyer becomes your advocate in these cases. We build a strong claim for you, one that outlines all of your losses and comprehensively holds those who hurt you accountable. Set up a free consultation with us to discuss what happened and what your rights are.
Proving Liability in a Hit and Run Accident
In hit-and-run accidents, victims face a long and difficult road to recovering fair damages for several reasons. The first is that they may not know who the at-fault party is, especially if law enforcement has yet to track down who it was. In these situations, you must rely on your own uninsured motorist coverage to cover your losses. In those cases, we will help you with:
- Obtain evidence that shows you did not cause the accident yourself, even though there is no other car to hold accountable.
- Gather any evidence possible to help police resolve the case, including videos of the surrounding area or evidence of another car’s presence with debris.
- Witnesses can also help to bolster your claims that another person struck you.
Most of the time, our attorney will use a wide range of evidence to demonstrate what occurred and how it happened. This then makes it possible for you to seek a claim against your uninsured motorist coverage. We stay by your side and fight to ensure the insurance company treats you fairly in these situations. Expect us to be aggressive in those situations.
What Happens When the Driver Is Found
It is rather common for police to eventually find the at-fault driver who fled the scene of the accident. That is due to the numerous cameras and other data available today.
You can expect law enforcement to continue to work on your case, but you can also expect our legal team to do the same. You may be able to recover more compensation if you can file a claim against that party’s insurance policy.
Once we know who the other party is, you can still file a claim, even if you recovered damages from your insurance company. You will see your coverage reduced by the amount they paid you, though, as the insurance company also has the right to pursue compensation. Nevertheless, you can file a lawsuit against the person at fault and maximize your claim.
Expect our legal team to become your advocate in these situations. We work diligently to build a claim that incorporates all of the losses you have, seeks insurance claims as well as a lawsuit against the at-fault party, and upholds your right to fair treatment. Before you settle your claim, let us go to work on it for you.
Why You Need a Seasoned Hit and Run Accident Lawyer in Providence to Handle Your Case
If you are wondering if you should hire a Rhode Island car accident lawyer after a hit-and-run incident, the answer is yes. Hit-and-run accidents, in particular, are complex, and it is essential to have an experienced Providence hit and run attorney by your side. Their extensive experience and knowledge of the law allow them to negotiate and seek legal recourse you would not have on your own.
As your lawyer works on your case, they will investigate all possible angles and options to get you justice and the financial relief you need.
They will also ensure you have enough evidence to resolve your claim. Your lawyer is equipped to handle the intricacies of the case and satisfy all applicable legal requirements.
Hiring a lawyer also ensures that you have someone who will fiercely protect your rights so you are not left without compensation or options. They will protect your best interests and negotiate with all applicable parties until they secure satisfactory results.
Do Not Just Settle Your Claim
One of the most common mistakes victims make is believing the insurance company will treat them fairly. It will not, but you can expect us to fight for that. Set up a free, no obligation consultation to discuss what happened to you, even if you have a settlement from the insurance company.
Let our experience work for you in proving what your claim’s value really should be. We are here to guide and support you along the way.
Gemma Law Firm is Ready to Resolve Your Case
Gemma Law Firm is your ally in resolving a hit-and-run accident claim. We provide you with exceptional service and trusted advice as we handle your case.
We advocate on your behalf and seek the driver responsible for your losses, all while you focus on healing. To learn more about your legal options, contact our team today to schedule a free consultation.
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