Michael J. Lucas & Associates, LLC helps clients evaluate both the effort to identify the fleeing driver and the insurance claims that may remain available even when the driver is never found.
What Should I Do After a Hit and Run?
Safety and medical care come first. The collision should generally be reported to law enforcement promptly. If possible, preserve any description of the vehicle, partial plate number, direction of travel, photographs, dash camera footage, witness information, debris, and nearby businesses or residences that may have surveillance cameras.
Video can be overwritten quickly. Identifying potential cameras early may therefore matter even when no one at the scene obtained a plate number.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage Can Be Critical
Illinois automobile policies generally include uninsured motorist protection, subject to the terms, limits, definitions, and conditions of the policy. A hit and run accident may potentially fall within that coverage even when the fleeing driver cannot be identified.
The policy should be reviewed carefully. Notice requirements, proof of the accident, cooperation duties, arbitration provisions, and other policy conditions can affect the claim.
A hit and run claim is not simply the same claim with an unknown defendant. The insured may be pursuing contractual rights under an insurance policy while also attempting to identify the negligent driver.
What if the Driver Is Later Identified?
If law enforcement, witnesses, video, or other evidence identifies the driver, a liability claim may become available against that person and potentially against an owner, employer, or other responsible party depending on the facts.
The existence of a liability claim can interact with uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, so the available policies should be considered together.
What Damages May Be Recovered?
Depending on the claim and coverage, recoverable losses may include medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, disability, loss of normal life, property damage where covered, and other damages supported by the evidence.
The amount available can also be affected by policy limits and the terms of the applicable insurance contract.
Should I Give My Insurer a Statement?
An insured has contractual duties to cooperate, but the timing and scope of a statement can matter, particularly when injuries are developing or facts are disputed. It is often useful to understand the policy requirements and the issues in the claim before providing detailed information.
If you have been injured by a driver who fled the scene, Michael and his team can help preserve the available evidence, review the applicable insurance policy, and explain the potential uninsured motorist and liability claims.
Areas We Serve
Michael J. Lucas & Associates, LLC assists clients throughout Boone County, Cook County, DuPage County, Kane County, Lake County, McHenry County, and Will County.
Our office serves clients throughout Northern Illinois, including Addison, Algonquin, Antioch, Arlington Heights, Aurora, Barrington, Bartlett, Batavia, Belvidere, Bloomingdale, Bolingbrook, Buffalo Grove, Carpentersville, Cary, Chicago, Crystal Lake, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Downers Grove, Elgin, Elk Grove Village, Elmhurst, Evanston, Fox Lake, Fox River Grove, Frankfort, Geneva, Glen Ellyn, Glenview, Grayslake, Gurnee, Hanover Park, Hampshire, Harvard, Highland Park, Hoffman Estates, Huntley, Joliet, Lake Barrington, Lake Forest, Lake in the Hills, Lake Zurich, Libertyville, Lincolnshire, Lisle, Lockport, Lombard, Marengo, McHenry, Mokena, Mount Prospect, Mundelein, Naperville, New Lenox, Northbrook, Palatine, Park Ridge, Plainfield, Poplar Grove, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows, Romeoville, Roselle, Schaumburg, Shorewood, South Elgin, St. Charles, Streamwood, Sugar Grove, Vernon Hills, Waukegan, West Chicago, Wheaton, Wheeling, Wilmette, Winfield, Wood Dale, Woodridge, and Woodstock.