There are few situations that can make a car accident worse than it already is, but a hit-and-run driver is one. When someone causes a crash and then takes off, you’re in serious trouble. You need to know the other driver’s identity to recover compensation through their insurance policy. Without knowing who caused the crash, you’re left paying out of pocket for injury expenses. If you’ve been involved in a hit-and-run crash in Trenton, New Jersey, you need a Trenton hit-and-run lawyer on your case as soon as possible.
Why Choose Wapner Newman?
Over Four Decades of Experience
Wapner Newman has been fighting for personal injury compensation in New Jersey and Pennsylvania for over 40 years. Our award-winning personal injury lawyers hold an unparalleled track record when it comes to obtaining results in the area of personal injury law. We’ve broken state records for personal injury verdicts, and our skilled legal team is ready to discuss your case next.
Wapner Newman has recovered over $100 million in personal injury verdicts and settlements for clients in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
There are not many law firms that can share more impressive case results and client testimonials than Wapner Newman. Our legal team is composed of aggressive trial attorneys who know how to obtain successful outcomes in even the most challenging cases. When you’re left struggling with accident costs after you’re the victim of a hit-and-run crash, we employ all the resources at our disposal to track down the other driver and hold them accountable for the damage they’ve caused.
Why You Need a Hit-and-Run Attorney Near Trenton
Getting Help With Hit-and-Run Compensation
Recovering compensation for hit-and-run accident injuries can be extremely challenging. Even in a normal car accident, it’s not always easy to build a case for negligence against the other driver and get the insurance policy to pay out what you are owed. The hardest element of handling a hit-and-run case isn’t even a factor in a normal car accident claim, and that’s the need to identify the other driver.
It’s unlikely that the police will manage to track down a hit-and-run driver in Trenton. For that, you need a hit-and-run accident attorney.
When you’re involved in a Trenton car accident and the other driver leaves the scene, you have very few options. The police can come and take down a car accident report, but there’s little they can do to help in most hit-and-run cases. It’s unlikely that the police will launch an investigation and dedicate resources to your case. The unfortunate reality is that police departments are often overburdened and can’t divert resources for a full-scale investigation into your crash.
On the other hand, a hit-and-run car accident lawyer can do this. Law firms know that if they can track down the other driver, your chances of filing a successful insurance claim are high. This means that while the police usually lack the resources or motivation to pursue the at-fault driver, a hit-and-run lawyer has both. Most hit-and-run lawyers work on contingency, meaning they only make money if they win your case.
Were you injured in a hit-and-run car accident in Trenton, New Jersey? Call Wapner Newman today at (215) 569-0900 to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Trenton hit-and-run lawyer.
Compensation Options After a Trenton Hit-and-Run Accident
Options Are Limited After a Trenton Hit-and-Run Crash
If you need to recover compensation for hit-and-run accident injuries, you have few options. To recover compensation, you typically need to locate the hit-and-run driver or hope your insurance policy covers the damage. Understanding these methods of obtaining compensation and how a lawyer can help improve the outcome is the first step toward protecting yourself financially. Navigating the aftermath of a hit-and-run is hard, but knowing and understanding your options can help you move forward.
Tracking Down the Other Driver
Once you involve a Trenton hit-and-run accident lawyer in your case, their first step will be to try to identify the driver who left the scene. One of the key benefits of hiring an attorney to do this is that they will launch a comprehensive investigation into your case. When you choose a large law firm, you know your lawyer has ample resources at their disposal.
Your lawyer can get access to traffic and business cameras, which may reveal the other vehicle’s license plate number. From there, they can coordinate with the police and DMV to identify the vehicle based on the owner’s information. If all goes well, your Trenton hit-and-run lawyer will successfully identify the driver, obtain their insurance information, and then begin the process of filing a claim on your behalf.
Using Your Own Insurance Policy
In some cases, there simply isn’t enough information to identify the at-fault driver in a hit-and-run crash. Waiting too long to contact a lawyer is often a key factor here. When someone chooses to illegally leave the scene of an accident, there’s often a reason. They might be under the influence, not have a license, or have open warrants. Whatever the reason, any delay makes tracking them down much harder.
When your lawyer can’t identify the other driver, they’ll explore whether your own auto insurance policy can help cover your injury costs. New Jersey is a no-fault accident state, meaning drivers are required to carry personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. This should pay for at least a portion of your injury costs. However, the legal minimum PIP coverage in New Jersey is only $15,000. Your PIP coverage is often not enough to cover your injury costs, especially in cases involving serious injury.
Many drivers choose to pay for insurance add-ons that offer additional protection in case of a hit-and-run accident. If you carry medical payments (MedPay) coverage or uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance (UM/UIM), these might be additional sources of compensation available through your own insurance provider.
To fully understand your options, you need to have a hit-and-run lawyer review your auto insurance policy. Car insurance policies are complex legal documents. Furthermore, insurance companies want to save money, not give it away. You need a lawyer to identify whether you’re covered and to fight for the compensation you deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’ve been the victim of a hit-and-run crash near Trenton, you might be asking some of these questions:
Do I need to hire a hit-and-run lawyer near Trenton?
You need to hire a lawyer if you’re serious about recovering injury compensation after a hit-and-run crash. Even for a skilled lawyer, it can be incredibly challenging to track down a driver who left the scene of an accident. Without such legal representation, identifying the other driver is highly unlikely.
How long will it take to recover hit-and-run compensation in Trenton?
It’s hard to predict how long a hit-and-run injury case will take. In one case, a lawyer might be able to identify the driver fairly quickly. In another, it could be a drawn-out process that takes considerable time. In still other cases, a lawyer is never able to identify the hit-and-run driver. The evidence and circumstances are unique in every crash.
How long do I have to call a hit-and-run lawyer near Trenton?
It’s important to contact a hit-and-run attorney near Trenton as soon as possible after the accident. The sooner you involve a lawyer, the better your chances of recovering compensation. If you end up needing to file a personal injury lawsuit against the other driver, you usually have two years under New Jersey law.
Can a lawyer help if a hit-and-run driver killed my loved one?
If your parent, child, or spouse lost their life in a Trenton hit-and-run crash, a lawyer might be able to help you recover wrongful death compensation. This money can help reimburse you for things like funeral and burial costs, medical bills, and lost wages.
Can I afford to hire a Trenton hit-and-run lawyer?
The Trenton hit-and-run lawyers at Wapner Newman don’t charge any fees unless and until we win your case. You can attend a free consultation to learn more about our fee agreements.
Do you have more questions about recovering hit-and-run accident compensation in Trenton, New Jersey? Get help today by contacting Wapner Newman and scheduling a free consultation.
Call Our Trenton Hit-and-Run Attorneys Today
Don’t Wait to Call a Trenton Hit-and-Run Attorney
Experiencing a hit-and-run accident can feel shocking. However, it’s important to recognize that you have options even when an at-fault driver leaves the scene of a crash. It’s possible for a lawyer to track down a hit-and-run driver, but success depends on speed in cases like this. You should contact a lawyer immediately to ensure the best chance of a successful outcome.
At Wapner Newman, we have a streamlined process for tracking down hit-and-run drivers that involves close coordination with the police and DMV. Our resources are at your disposal, and we’re ready to begin the process of holding the other driver responsible for the damage they’ve caused.
Get help with hit-and-run injury costs today. Call Wapner Newman at (215) 569-0900 to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Trenton hit-and-run lawyer.