Memphis Hit & Run Accident Attorneys
Nearly 10 million people visit Memphis every year. These visitors come from all over the world for business, conventions, sports, and recreation. According to the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, Memphis and Shelby County account for $3.2 billion in tourism every year. From taking in a blues concert on Beale Street to visiting Graceland, Memphis has a lot to offer.
Yet, all this tourism has its disadvantages. Memphis hit and run crashes, in particular, are on the rise in surrounding communities. Pedestrians, many of whom are tourists, can be struck while crossing Jackson Avenue, Beale Street, or any popular and busy city streets. Children are struck while heading to nearby elementary schools, such as Berclair Elementary. Even motorcyclists and bicyclists are at risk of getting into a serious or fatal hit-and-run accident.
When this occurs, hit-and-run accident survivors need an experienced Memphis hit-and-run lawyer on their side who can fight for their rights to compensation. While the police attempt to track down the hit and run driver, your attorney will fight insurance companies and providers for you. That way, you can focus on your health and on putting your life back together again after a serious Memphis hit and run accident.
Hit and Run Accidents in Memphis
In Tennessee, all drivers are required by law to remain at the scene of an accident that causes property damage or personal injury. Failure to do so could result in serious criminal charges for leaving the scene of the accident. Unfortunately, not all drivers obey these laws.
When a serious accident occurs, drivers may decide to suddenly flee the scene of the accident for many reasons, including:
- Fear
- Driving without a license
- Confusion or disorientation
- Driving distracted
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Weapons or drugs in the vehicle
- On probation
- Worried about insurance rates
- Driving stolen vehicle
No matter why someone flees the scene of an accident, it is a crime. When a hit and run accident occurs, injured accident victims may not receive immediate emergency treatment. In these accidents, minutes can make a difference between life and death. As such, the law treats hit and run accidents very seriously.
Hit and run accidents most commonly occur in busy intersections and streets and poorly lit avenues and roads. In Memphis, the most common places hit and run accidents occur include:
- Dark country roads
- Intersections
- Roads with high pedestrian rates, such as near schools or hospitals
- School zones
- Parking lots
Do I Have a Case?
If you have been injured in a hit-and-run accident in Memphis, you may wonder if you truly have a case. To determine if you can file a personal injury claim against the hit and run driver, it is important to speak to an experienced hit and run accident lawyer at Rainwater, Holt & Sexton. Our attorneys can review your case personally to determine the best course of legal action. If you can file a claim or lawsuit, we will help you do so.
In general, if you answer yes to any of these questions, you may have a claim:
- Did you get into an accident with a hit and run driver?
- Did you suffer injuries?
- Did your car sustain damages?
- Was the accident the fault of the other driver?
Auto Accident Resources
If you suffered an injury in a Memphis auto accident, here are some resources that might be useful to you after your accident.
Seeking Medical Care in Memphis
Grief and Support Groups in Memphis
Legal Assistance in Memphis
- Rainwater, Holt & Sexton – Memphis hit and run accident attorneys
- Tennessee State Bar Association
- Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association
What To Do After a Hit and Run?
If you are injured in a hit and run accident, it is important to know what to do. Time is critical, and the outcome of your health and your claim depend on the steps you take after the crash.
Call 911
The best thing you can do is to call 911 immediately to alert both the police and emergency medical personnel to your location. You will need medical care and treatment, and the police will need to begin investigating the accident so they can track down the at-fault driver. Even if you do not believe that you suffered an injury, call 911. It would be best if you underwent a medical examination as soon as possible to avoid serious and potentially life-threatening complications.
Write Down Information
While the accident is still fresh in your mind, write down as much as possible about the other vehicle and the driver. If you can remember the license plate number, that will help the authorities track down the hit and run suspect. If you are injured, ask a friend or bystander to write down the information for you and take pictures of the accident and damage to your vehicle.
Contact an Attorney
The police will try to locate the hit-and-run driver so that they can press criminal charges. This does not mean that they will help you file a claim. Instead, you must hire an experienced hit-and-run accident lawyer to fight insurance companies for you. If the hit and run driver is not found, you may need to turn to your insurance policy to collect damages. Your hit-and-run accident lawyer will help you determine the best course of legal action.
Types of Compensation
Even after a hit-and-run accident, victims are eligible for compensation. The type of compensation they can receive depends largely on the accident itself and the damages suffered. In general, however, you can pursue compensation for the following damages:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation
- Lost earnings
- Loss of future earnings
- Disability
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment in life
In some cases, you can even pursue punitive damages. Judges and juries often award these damages to punish the hit and run driver and deter others from making similar mistakes.
Your attorney can help you determine what types of compensation to pursue and what amount of settlement adequately reflects the suffering you have endured.
In the best-case scenario, the police will locate the hit-and-run driver. That driver will have ample insurance, and you will be able to file a claim against the negligent driver for the compensation you deserve. However, this best-case scenario rarely happens. In reality, the hit and run driver may not be found, or they may not have insurance.
What can you do?
If you have Uninsured Motorist/ Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) insurance, your attorney can turn to your policy to collect compensation for your suffering. This is why you purchased this policy, and you can use it.
Tennessee insurance companies must offer this insurance coverage to drivers when they open a policy. However, drivers can choose to accept or deny this coverage.
Even if you have UM/UIM insurance coverage, the insurance company may still make it difficult to collect the money you need. That is why you need an attorney. Your attorney will work with your insurance company to get you the compensation you need. They may even fight the claim initially, especially if they believe that the driver will be found.
Filing an Insurance Claim
After you seek medical help, the very next thing you should do is to contact an experienced hit-and-run lawyer. These accidents and claims are complex and your time is better spent on your treatment and recovery. Your lawyer knows how to handle these claims efficiently and can work with insurance companies on your behalf.
When filing a claim, here are the steps you and your lawyer can take:
- Contact insurance company to report the accident.
- File a police report if one was not already filed.
- Stick to the facts when talking to an insurance adjuster. Do not speculate.
- Do not get your car repaired until your lawyer gives you the green light. Insurance companies must review the damage to the vehicle first. In addition, there may be valuable evidence there that could help your case.
- Do not accept the first insurance company offer without letting your lawyer negotiate.
Do not sign anything from the insurance company without first speaking to your attorney. Insurance companies will try and reduce their claim in any way they can. They often do this by using deceptive tactics and tricks. Your attorney will know these tactics and can counter them aggressively to protect your future and your rights to compensation.
Why Choose Rainwater, Holt & Sexton?
With over 25 attorneys and 100 staff members dedicated to you and your family, we have a law firm that can aggressively tackle hit and run accident cases. These complex cases can take a considerable amount of time and money. We can help you pursue justice and protect your rights at every turn.
We treat all our clients personally and with the care and attention they deserve. You are never just a number here. That is one reason why so many injured accident victims choose Rainwater, Holt, and Sexton to represent them.
We Serve Memphis
Whether you call Memphis your home or you’re just visiting, you need an experienced Memphis hit and run accident lawyer on your side from the start. From Germantown to West Memphis and beyond, our attorneys know the ways to protect accident victims. We work with local experts and medical teams to help your case succeed quickly.
Contact Our Memphis Hit and Run Accident Attorneys
With nine offices in Arkansas and Tennessee – Little Rock, Little Rock-Corporate Hill, Springdale, Conway, Hot Springs, Bryant, Jacksonville, Jonesboro, and Memphis—our Memphis personal injury lawyers are here to help you no matter where you suffer an injury. Contact Rainwater, Holt & Sexton drunk driving accident lawyers today.
Fill out a free contact request form, which only takes a minute, or simply dial (800) 434-4800 and tell us your story. We offer FREE consultations in person or over the phone to better assist you. You have nothing to lose! Call us today!