Uninsured Motorist Accident Attorneys in San Francisco

Recovering Compensation After a Hit-and-Run Accident

In California, fleeing the scene of an accident is a crime. If you were struck by a driver who fled the scene, it can greatly threaten your ability to recover compensation for your damages.

Although there are challenges in hit-and-run accident claims, some solutions do exist. For example:

• Claims against located drivers: Notifying law enforcement as soon as possible can improve the chances of finding the driver who caused your crash. If that driver is located and carries auto insurance, you can seek compensation through their coverage. Any criminal charges they may face are separate from your personal injury case.
• Other defendants: In some cases, auto accident victims may be able to seek compensation from sources that are not as obvious as the hit-and-run driver, such as a negligent motorist who ran the hit-and-run vehicle out of their lane, manufacturers of defective products, or negligent property owners who failed to address hazards. If you were injured by a hit-and-run driver as a passenger in a rideshare vehicle like Uber or Lyft, your damages may also be covered by the company’s commercial insurance policy. Exploring the potential for naming other defendants can help you recover needed compensation in the event a fleeing motorist is never found.
• UM / UIM claims: Hit-and-run drivers are not always located, which is why it is very important to carry sufficient uninsured / underinsured motorist coverage. Because California law presumes hit-and-run drivers to be uninsured, you can recover damages sustained in a hit-and-run crash, up to the limits of your policy, by filing a claim with your own insurance company. You must have this additional coverage in order to pursue a claim.

A Proven Team by Your Side

Bostwick & Peterson has decades of experience fighting for auto accident victims. We are certified by the American Board of Professional Liability as Specialists in our field, and our team includes attorneys recognized among The Best Lawyers in America©, California Super Lawyers®, and other legal rating services.

We understand the laws and we know your rights. When you contact a caring and talented lawyer at our firm, you not only receive answers to your questions, but we will also thoroughly review your case, advise you of your rights, help you file claims or lawsuits as needed and fight to ensure you receive the maximum compensation allowed under law.

Request a FREE Consultation. Call (888) 831-8448

Don't be fooled. Insurance companies, like most businesses, are there to make money for their stockholders and answer to a Board of Directors. That is simply their business model. Due to this fact, when it comes time to pay out on an insurance claim, especially if an uninsured motorist was at fault, many insurance companies will strive for a quick settlement in order to pay out the least possible amount. Other insurance companies will attempt to unnecessarily delay your claim in order to draw out the investigation process, thus hoping to force you to settle for a lesser amount.

Don't let insurance companies intimidate you. You have rights. You deserve to get the compensation you are owed for the injuries and damages you sustained during the accident, even if an uninsured motorist was at fault.