Failure to do so is a misdemeanor offense punishable by up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. If someone was injured or killed in the crash, hit and run is charged a felony offense with penalties that are much more severe.

What happens to victims of hit and run accidents in San Jose?

Any car accident is stressful enough, but a person involved in a collision caused by a hit and run driver has the additional problem of how to recover compensation for injuries sustained in the collision. Normally, if another driver caused the crash, that driver’s insurance company should cover the damages.

However, when the other driver leaves the scene, the situation becomes much more complicated. Hiring an experienced San Jose car accident attorney can improve your odds of getting compensation.

We won’t let the insurance company victimize or bully you.

Our case results at The Swanson Law Group speak for themselves. We have won multi-million dollar settlements and awards for people injured in motor vehicle accidents through the negligence of others. As a person with Parkinson’s disease, our founding attorney, Ben Swanson, truly relates to people in pain who have suffered an illness or injury. He deeply understands the power and beauty of health in life’s journey, and he has turned his experience into a superpower for the benefit of our clients. We are dedicated to serving others who have been victimized or bullied by big insurance companies. 

What are your options for compensation after a hit and run crash?

It can be a challenge to get paid after a hit and run accident, but there’s always a chance that the police will catch the driver who left the scene. This is why it’s in your best interest to provide them with as much information as you can about the driver and vehicle involved. Your attorney may be able to assist you with an investigation to identify and locate the hit and run driver. If the at-fault driver cannot be located, there may be other ways to recover compensation under your own auto insurance policy:

  • Uninsured motorist (UIM): If you have uninsured motorist coverage under your auto insurance policy, your insurer should cover your damages up to policy limits. This coverage, which is designed to protect you in case an uninsured driver hits you, also applies in hit and run accident cases.
  • Collision: Like UIM, collision is optional coverage in personal auto insurance policies. If you have UIM, it can help cover the cost of repairs to your vehicle after a hit and run accident.
  • MedPay: Medical payments coverage is an add-on to car insurance policies that helps pay for medical treatment for injured passengers or drivers, regardless of who was at fault for the crash. There are no deductibles and no restrictions on which providers you can see for car accident injury medical treatment. 
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Do you need a lawyer to deal with your own insurance company?

You pay your car insurance premiums, so the coverage should be available to you when you need it. The reality is, even if you have the right coverage, it can still be difficult to get compensated for a hit and run accident.

Insurance companies are in business for profit, and are primarily interested in their own bottom line. They make their money at the expense of injured people.

They delay or deny claims for mysterious reasons, demand unreasonable amounts of paperwork, and pressure victims to take lowball settlements. For them, it’s all in a day’s work. They are reluctant to pay out on claims in the absence of compelling evidence — and in hit and run accidents, the other driver is absent altogether. Your best chance of getting full compensation is to have an attorney from The Swanson Law Group fighting for you. We don’t compromise. 

Get the help you need from a team you can trust

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