An Oregon Hit and Run Attorney can help you obtain the compensation you are owed. Being involved in a car accident is bad enough, but it is made even worse when the other driver does not stop to see if you are all right and exchange insurance information. When this happens, it is considered a crime and the victimized person should immediately report the incident to the local law enforcement authorities. In Oregon, law enforcement aggressively prosecutes hit and runs, especially those involving injuries.
Drivers flee from the scene of accidents do so for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it is to avoid a warrant for their arrest. Other times it is because they simply do not have insurance and they are afraid of the legal repercussions. Often it is because they are under the influence of intoxicants and do not want to be charged with a DUII.
When a hit and run accident occurs there are a number of things you need to do to protect yourself:
You Can Still Recover Compensation If You Are Injured in a Hit and Run
Many people wrongly assume that they are unable to recover reasonable compensation for the harms and losses they sustained as a result of the hit and run accident because the driver that would usually be held accountable is absent. This is not the case. Every insurance company in Oregon is required to provide uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage as part of the auto insurance policies they issue. One triggering event in every auto policy is a hit and run accident. If the other driver cannot be located and you did not jeopardize your insurance company’s ability to investigate the loss, then a valid uninsured motorist claim can be a pathway to reasonable compensation.
The PIP Year Became Two Years in 2016 In Oregon
Drivers who through no fault of their own find themselves ensnared in the after effects of a hit and run accident have had even more statutory protections available to them since 2016. This is because Oregon has legislatively mandated that insurance companies lengthen the period of time Personal Injury Protection Benefits can be used for reasonable and necessary medical expenses incurred as a result of body injuries suffered in car accidents. The “PIP year” actually became two years in 2016, which provides much needed support for the countless individuals injured in car accidents in Oregon.
The car accident attorneys at Johnson Law, P.C. are standing by to assist and aggressively advocate for you and your loved ones who have unfortunately been injured in hit and run accidents. Please do not hesitate to take advantage of the free consultations we offer to prospective clients. Remember, the consultation is free and we don’t get paid unless we win.
