Dallas, TX Hit and Run Accident Lawyer

Responsive Hit and Run Accident Lawyer Helping Injured Drivers in Dallas, Texas

After a car accident, it can be distressing when the other driver abruptly leaves the scene without giving their contact information. However, you still have legal options. For help navigating these kinds of claims, get in contact with a Dallas, TX hit and run accident attorney who can take steps to help you recover payment.

When a car accident leaves you burdened with thousands of dollars in medical bills and repair estimates, seeking strong legal counsel is in your best interests. At the Law Office of J. Gregory Marks, we have helped many clients with complex personal injury claims, drawing on decades of legal experience and successful case results.

What Should You Do Immediately After a Hit and Run Accident in Dallas?

Watching a driver speed away from the site of an accident can be disorienting. However, taking the right steps in those first moments can make a real difference in how your claim develops.

First, call 911 and stay at the scene. Give the dispatcher as much information as you can about the vehicle that fled, including the make, model, color, direction of travel, and any portion of the license plate you were able to see. A police report is essential in a hit and run case, so wait for officers to arrive and document everything.

While you wait, take photos of your vehicle, the surrounding area, skid marks, debris, and any visible injuries. Look around for witnesses and get their contact information before they leave. Nearby businesses, traffic cameras, and residential doorbell cameras may have captured footage of the crash or the fleeing vehicle. Note their locations so your attorney can follow up quickly.

After leaving the site of the wreck, be sure to seek medical attention as soon as you are able. Delays in seeking treatment can hurt your claim and make it harder to tie your injuries to the wreck.

Filing an Uninsured Motorist Claim After a Hit and Run

When the driver who caused the accident cannot be identified, your own insurance policy may be your primary source of recovery. Uninsured motorist coverage is designed for exactly this situation.

This kind of coverage applies when the at-fault driver either has no insurance or, in a hit and run, cannot be found. Texas does not require drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage, but insurers are required to offer it, and many drivers have it without fully understanding what it covers.

Filing a claim with your own insurance company can feel straightforward, but it is not without its complications. Your insurer still has an interest in limiting what it pays out, and the claims process can involve the same disputes over fault and injury severity that arise in any other claim. Having an attorney handle communications and negotiations can help protect your rights.

Can You Get Punitive Damages in a Dallas Hit and Run?

Leaving the scene of an accident is a criminal offense in Texas, and the deliberate choice to flee rather than stop and render aid reflects the kind of reckless disregard for others that can support a punitive damages claim. If the at-fault driver is later found, you may be able to pursue punitive damages in addition to the compensation available in a standard claim.

Standard compensation in a hit and run case can also factor in medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, property damage, pain and suffering, physical impairment, and loss of enjoyment of life. Punitive damages go beyond those losses and are intended to hold the at-fault party accountable for conduct that goes well beyond ordinary negligence.

Contact a Dallas, TX Hit and Run Accident Attorney

At the Law Office of J. Gregory Marks, our attorney handles hit and run accident claims on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless compensation is recovered for you. Contact our Dallas, Texas hit and run accident lawyer or call 214-427-4417 to set up a free consultation.