Did another driver leave the scene after striking your car with their vehicle? Legally, this is recognized as a hit and run collision, and you have rights as the victim of the crash. When you contact a Manhattan car accident lawyer, your attorney can help you pursue compensation.
With 50 years of combined experience, Chaikin Trial Group Personal Injury Lawyers has what it takes to represent you as your hit and run accident lawyer in Manhattan. We’ve recovered $100 million for our clients, and we handle cases like yours with a unique sense of urgency.
We’ll prepare your case as if it will go to trial, even if insurance companies try to avoid taking their fair share of responsibility. Even though the person who caused your injuries drove away after hurting you, we’ll do everything we can to fight for a favorable outcome in your case.
Your Legal Options When You Can’t Locate the Driver
One of the biggest misconceptions about hit and run accidents is that you don’t have a case if the at-fault driver isn’t identified. However, that’s not true, especially in New York.
Even if the driver is never found, there are still potential paths that your Manhattan personal injury lawyer can pursue for compensation, including the following:
- Your own uninsured motorist coverage
- Household insurance policies in some cases
- Possible third-party liability depending on the crash
- Crime victim compensation programs in certain situations
Unfortunately, insurance companies don’t make this process easy for victims or their law firms. They will likely question your injuries, delay their response times, or try to minimize what they owe you, but your hit and run accident attorneys in Manhattan can respond on your behalf.
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Why the Aftermath of a Hit And Run Crash Can Be Overwhelming
These accidents often happen fast in busy areas like Manhattan, where drivers are rushing, driving while distracted, or trying to avoid consequences. Pedestrians, cyclists, rideshare passengers, and drivers can all become victims in seconds.
And when the responsible driver leaves the scene, it creates a second layer of stress that many people don’t know how to respond to, but your hit and run accident attorney in Manhattan will know how to help. For starters, legally, a hit and run is not a simple traffic violation.
A hit and run occurs when a driver leaves the scene without stopping, providing information, or reporting the crash when required. Per New York law, drivers involved in crashes are required to stop and exchange information, and when they don’t, they may be violating provisions under the NY Vehicle & Traffic Law §600.
How Insurance Claims Respond in Hit And Run Cases
When the driver is unknown, victims end up having to deal with their own insurance company. That can be frustrating, especially when you are already injured and trying to recover, but your hit and run car accident lawyer in Manhattan can help you understand how to proceed.
New York requires drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage, which is supposed to step in when the at-fault driver cannot be identified. But just because coverage exists does not mean it is automatically paid out. Insurance companies still engage in these frustrating behaviors:
- Dispute how the accident happened.
- Question whether your injuries are related.
- Delay communication.
- Offer low settlements quickly to close the claim.
This is where representation from a hit and run accident attorney in Manhattan is more important than ever. Your lawyer will take over all communication so that you don’t have to speak with adjusters on your own, let alone while injured or overwhelmed.
Laws That Matter in Hit and Run Collision Cases
Hit and run cases in New York often involve more than one area of law. On the criminal side, leaving the scene of an accident can result in serious penalties, but on the civil side, victims are focused on compensation for injuries.
Under New York law, this is what drivers are required to do after getting involved in accidents:
- Stop immediately.
- Provide identification and insurance information.
- Report the accident when required.
Failure to do so can trigger penalties under Vehicle and Traffic Law provisions like the duty to report accidents per NY Vehicle & Traffic Law §605. But for victims, the civil case is usually what matters more. Here’s what this includes proving:
- The accident happened.
- The other driver was at fault or fled.
- Your injuries were caused by the crash.
- Coverage exists under insurance or other legal sources.
A lawyer builds this case step by step, often working with accident reconstructionists, medical professionals, and investigators to connect all the pieces.
Contact Chaikin Trial Group Personal Injury Lawyers for Legal Help From Our Manhattan Hit and Run Accident Law Firm
After working with so many victims of hit and run collisions, Chaikin Trial Group Personal Injury Lawyers recognize that the hardest part isn’t just the crash itself, but everything that comes after it. That’s why we dedicate our time to people who need Manhattan hit and run accident lawyers.
We can handle the investigation on your behalf, speak with insurance companies, and build a claim under New York law. As a result, you won’t have to handle anything on your own. Even if the driver is never found, there are still ways we can pursue compensation for you.
Our hit and run accident lawyers in Manhattan can determine the right legal strategy for your case, which can make all the difference in the outcome. For direct access to your lawyer and contingency-based representation, contact us today. Come in as a client, leave as a friend. Contact us today!
