10 Reasons you do not need to hire a hit and run accident lawyer.
A hit and run accident occurs when a driver flees the scene of an accident, contrary to stopping at the scene to exchange information, render help, and report the crash to the nearest police.
The penalties for leaving or fleeing the scene of an accident, though vary from one area to another, include fines, imprisonment, and suspension/revocation of your driver’s rights.
On a bad day, you could get a sentence of 25 years in prison, or in the worst scenario, you could spend the rest of your life behind bars.
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As you can see guys, you definitely need the help of an experienced criminal defense lawyer to save your life from the harsh penalties.
According to Patricia Guerrero, chief justice of California, “You do not always need to hire an attorney following a hit and run”.
In short, A hit and run accident lawyer is not necessary as insurance claims and compensation can be pursued without one, and hiring a lawyer depends on the specific circumstances.
Yes, even though you are hit and run victim, do not run to the lawyer’s office just yet, or not until you have read this article.
1. No injuries. A hit and run involving property damages is classified as a minor hit and run. Remember, the hit and run driver has 2 potential charges.
He/she may be charged with a criminal offense or the hit and run victim has a right to bring a civil action against the perpetrator. If you are the victim, you will only be compensated through civil proceedings.
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If you committed a hit and run and at the same time you were found guilty of having negligently caused the accident, be ready to compensate the victim by paying him/her monetary damages.
The victim will sue you or claim through your insurance company for damages like medical bills, emotional distress, lost wages/income, pain and suffering, disability costs, etc.
What you will receive as the victim will largely depend on your injuries and therefore is also dependent on your medical bills.
In fact, your final payout sometimes is a direct factor in your medical bills. It’s not surprising to hear that medical bills constitute 60-80% of your final settlement.
Remember most personal injury lawyers charge 30-40% of your final payout, though others charge an hourly pay fee. Because you had a minor hit and run accident, there is a likelihood your final settlement payout will be less too.
If your case is likely to attract less settlement payout, hiring a lawyer will prove to be a costly decision. In the end, the lawyer will end up taking almost your entire payout. In short, do not hire a lawyer if there is the likelihood of receiving less amounts of settlements.
2. Emotional pain and suffering. These damages contribute the second largest part of your settlement payout. Just like injuries, there is no point in hiring an attorney if you are likely going to receive hundreds or thousands of dollars.
3. Disability and lost wages. As I said before your final compensation amount will be an aggregation of single damages that the jury/judge independently determines if you deserve them or not.
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A person that let’s say sustained spinal injuries will be granted huge sums of money as future support. Do not hire a hit and run lawyer if you sustained no long-term injuries, or if your lost wages are just peanuts.
4. Property damage only. The point of not hiring a lawyer of course hinges on the costs vs what you will receive. Remember this is a minor hit-and-run, right?
Actually, some states do not mandate reporting a minor hit and runs an example being Illinois.
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Additionally, police will most likely not waste their limited resources and time investigating minor hit and runs“, says Marsha G. Slough, Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division Two.
“If you are a victim of leaving the scene of an accident charge involving only property damages, your compensation settlement is not going to be high enough to cover lawyer fees and other costs”, says Brad R. Hill, Presiding Justice of the Court, Fifth Appellate District.
5. Insurance offer. It’s true many insurance companies do not like compensating their clients. They will do everything possible to either cheat you or deny you a settlement payout.
On another hand, few insurance companies have an excellent customer care, and even the most hostile ones will try to settle minor cases smoothly.
If you think the amount of settlement on the negotiation table between you and your insurance company is enough, I recommend you pocket it and leave in peace. Involving a lawyer in these simple negotiations will consume your little awarded money.
6. No fault. If you did not cause the accident, involving a lawyer is almost useless, so try to do away with the legal officer.
7. Limited return. Pursuing negotiations and or accident lawsuits consumes money, and time. If you think that what you are going to invest in will bring in low returns, do not seek the services of a lawyer.
8. No injuries or damage. This a minor accident, right? Unless there are injuries, hiring a hit-and-run accident attorney is not worth it.
Some insurance companies may hike your rates for even not at-fault claims. You also need to cover your simple costs other than hiking your insurance rates through simple claims.
9. Expected compensation. I will think of hiring an attorney if my compensation is likely to be huge. For instance, it’s going to be practically impossible to be awarded a $1m compensation settlement in the absence of a car accident lawyer.
10. Long-term risks. Some cases that don’t involve long-term risk do not warrant hiring the services of a counsel.
Having mentioned the above factors, it’s worth mentioning that the need to hire a car accident attorney depends on the circumstances of an accident and the likelihood of legal implications and other punishments.
Conclusion.
Hiring a hit and run accident lawyer is key on both sides of the victim and the driver that is being accused.
The driver that left the scene of an accident will benefit from getting fair penalties or the charge getting dropped. On the other hand, the victim benefits from getting a maximum compensation settlement.
But, do not hire an injury or accident lawyer if you think your case has no potential to be awarded large sums of money. In many instances, personal settlement with the insurance company could be much more profitable than hiring a hit and run accident lawyer.
Source:
1. Hit and Run Accident Lawyers. Ben Cramp. https://bencrump.com/car-accident-lawyer/hit-and-run/
2. Hit and Run – The 2 Types and What to do if You’re Involved. FELDMAN & ROYLE. https://www.feldmanroyle.com/vehicular-crimes/hit-and-run/
3. Howard, B. (Feb 2022) How to Hire a Lawyer: Roles and Responsibilities. ContractsCounsel. https://www.contractscounsel.com/b/how-to-hire-a-lawyer