Newport Beach Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer

All drivers in California are legally obligated to stop, exchange information, and render reasonable assistance after being involved in a car accident. Unfortunately, many drivers in Newport Beach will flee the scene of a crash in an attempt to avoid penalties such as jail time and increased insurance premiums.

If you or someone you care about has suffered an injury in a hit-and-run crash in Newport Beach, it may sadden you to know that the insurance companies often will refuse to cover the damages. Victims of hit-and-run accidents often endure not only the pain of their injuries, but stress from the uncertainty of how they will recover their damages. At Younglove Law Group Personal Injury & Accident Attorneys, we represent hit-and-run accident victims in Newport Beach and help them recover the compensation they deserve.

Many Californians assume their car insurance company will cover their medical bills or repair costs if they suffer an injury in a hit-and-run accident. However, that is not necessarily true.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Uninsured motorist coverage is voluntary in California, but even if you purchased this add-on, it only covers drivers for bodily injuries sustained in accidents with uninsured drivers, underinsured drivers, or hit-and-run drivers. Because it only covers bodily injury you cannot use uninsured motorist coverage to recover damages to your vehicle or any of your personal property that was damaged in an accident. If you were involved in an accident with another driver and their coverage has lapsed, your uninsured motorist coverage will afford coverage for your bodily injury claim up to the policy limit of your uninsured motorist policy. 

Liability Insurance Coverage

Liability insurance only covers bodily injuries and property damage you cause to another in an accident for which you are liable. It does not cover any of your own damages. If, for example, you are involved in an accident caused by another driver and you only carry liability insurance coverage, your own carrier will not cover the damages to your car. In other words, if you are involved in a crash you will not be able to recover any of your damages from your own liability insurance.

Collision Coverage

Collision coverage, which is optional for owners but often required by lenders, will pay to repair or replace your car after an accident regardless of fault. This coverage will not cover medical expenses, only the cost to replace or repair the damage to your vehicle after an accident. If you caused the accident, however, you will still be required to pay your deductible.

Medical Payments Coverage

Also known as MedPay, medical payments coverage can supplement your auto insurance policy. MedPay will cover any medical costs, including expenses for procedures, equipment, nursing care, and rehabilitation that you require after a car accident. However, MedPay does not cover car repairs or other property damage, and not all types of injuries are covered. Even injuries that are eligible for MedPay will only be covered up to your policy’s limit, and many MedPay policies limit the amount of time after an accident during which your treatment will be eligible for reimbursement.

If a driver leaves the scene after hitting your vehicle, first make sure to seek emergency medical treatment, if needed. Next, jot down everything you can about the crash while the memories are still fresh in your mind. Then, speak with any witnesses of the accident and try to collect information that could be relevant to your claim, such as:

• The color, make, and model of the other driver’s vehicle
• The other vehicle’s license plate number
• A description of the other driver
• What happened before, during, and after the crash
• Photos of your vehicle’s damages and bodily injuries

After becoming the victim of a hit-and-run crash in Newport Beach, also make sure to notify the police, gather contact information from witnesses, and file a claim with your insurance company.

Normally, the driver who causes an accident in California is responsible for the damages they have caused, including pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, and vehicle damages. Unfortunately, when the other driver flees the scene of the crash and fails to provide identification, compensation can feel impossible to recover.

The team at Younglove Law Group Personal Injury & Accident Attorneys is determined to help injured hit-and-run accident victims in Newport Beach recover the compensation they need. For a free review of your unique case, call us today at (949) 691-3660 or complete our contact form.