Seattle Hit-and-Run Accident Attorneys

If you have suffered injury or property damage as a result of a hit-and-run accident, you may be entitled to compensation. When someone is involved in a costly accident, they have a responsibility to follow up with the other involved party. If another driver in your accident has failed in this responsibility, a Seattle car accident attorney at Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers can help you to understand your rights and pursue fair compensation.

For over a decade, our firm has advocated for the rights of accident victims in Seattle and beyond. We are proud to have a stellar record of client satisfaction and fight for each new client with vigor and skill. In addition to various past awards, we demonstrate our commitment to clients by working on a contingency-fee basis. In other words, to make the legal process as low-stress as possible, we only charge fees if we win compensation in your case.

As you consider how to respond to your hit-and-run accident, do not hesitate to contact Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers to review your legal options. You can schedule a free, confidential consultation now by calling (206) 312-0954 or filling out our online contact form. We are here to help you and will respond promptly to your inquiry.

Do I Need a Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer?

Car accidents are inherently stressful. When a negligent driver disappears from the scene of the accident, however, the situation can become much more challenging. As the injured person in this type of accident, it can be extremely difficult to know where to turn to cover your bills.

Luckily, if the missing driver in your accident is found, you may be eligible for compensation through their insurance or other assets. However, this is a big “if.” Depending on the information that is available at the scene of the accident, it can be challenging to locate these drivers. Furthermore, if located, the driver may turn out to be uninsured. In these cases, you will most likely have to turn to your own insurance provider to help cover your costs. Negotiating with an insurance company, whether your own or another driver’s, can prove to be a challenge of its own.

If you are facing the fallout from a hit-and-run accident, a lawyer can help navigate the difficulties in your unique case. A hit-and-run accident lawyer will know which routes to take to secure maximum compensation for your injuries. For starters, this lawyer can ensure that there is a thorough investigation to find the other driver. If that option for compensation is exhausted, an experienced accident attorney will be able to skillfully deal with an insurance company.

Why Choose Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers to Handle My Case?

Since 2009, Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers has skillfully defended the rights of injured persons across Washington state. Our past clients’ testimonials stand as evidence of the energy, knowledge, and commitment that we bring to each case. As one client put it: “Jeff knows what he’s doing, cares about every client, and works his tail off. There’s nothing else you can ask for from your attorney.”

Various awards also demonstrate attorney Jeffree Caffee’s legal skills. For the past seven years in a row, Jeff has earned a spot among the National Trial Lawyers’ “Top 100 Trial Lawyers.” He also won an Award for Advocacy from the International Academy of Trial Lawyers in 2009.

Furthermore, we demonstrate our client-centered approach by fronting the costs associated with legal action. At Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers, we understand how stressful an accident can be and don’t want to add to your stress with any additional costs. We work on a contingency-fee basis, which means that you only have to pay us if and when we win compensation for you.

How We Respond to Hit-and-Run Accidents

Hit-and-run accidents can be very complicated and typically require a nuanced legal response. Since one of the drivers – who has acted negligently by fleeing the accident – has disappeared from the scene, the route to compensation is often far from obvious. That said, there are certain approaches that your attorney may use following your accident. Below, we discuss two of the more common steps that can be taken in response to a hit-and-run incident.

Finding the Driver

When a hit-and-run accident happens, it is crucial first to search for the missing car and driver. While the police will conduct an investigation to find the car involved in the accident, this task may not qualify as one of their top priorities. An attorney can supplement the police investigation with a focused, dedicated search to find the car from the accident. Evidence such as glimpsed license plate numbers or other identifying factors may contribute to this search.

After finding the car, it is necessary to learn who was driving it at the time of the accident. Once this person has been located, it will be possible to deduce the potential for compensation in your case. This potential hinges largely on the driver’s insurance policy. Unfortunately, many drivers run from the scene of an accident precisely because they are uninsured. Nonetheless, they may have other assets that they can use to compensate for the damage they’ve caused.

If the driver has been found and has sufficient insurance or assets, you may be able to receive compensation from this person. In this case, your lawyer will fight to win all of the compensation you deserve. Here are just some of the possible forms of compensation for which you may be eligible:

• Medical bills: If you suffered physical injury due to your accident, you may be entitled to compensation. This compensation may cover hospitalization, ambulance rides, surgery costs, and more.
• Vehicle repairs or replacement: If your car was damaged or totaled in your accident, you may receive compensation. Depending on the extent of the property damage in your case, this may cover the cost of repairing or even replacing the car.
• Lost wages: If you had to miss work as a result of your accident, you may be able to recover the equivalent of the wages you lost. This may include compensation for sick or vacation days that you were forced to use during your recovery period.
• Loss of earning capacity: Any loss of earning capacity that you experience may be compensable. This might be the case if a long-term injury from the accident impacts your working ability and forces you to switch jobs or limit working time.
• Pain and suffering: You may be entitled to compensation for your physical pain and suffering, as well as your mental pain and suffering, such as mental anguish, emotional distress, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Turning to Your Insurance

If the other driver is never found, or if the driver is uninsured and lacking sufficient assets, you will most likely have to seek assistance from your own insurance provider. This may not sound daunting, but it can prove to be a deeply aggravating process.

Let’s say that you have located the driver from your hit-and-run accident, but this driver turned out to have no car insurance. If your insurance policy includes “uninsured or underinsured motorist” coverage, your provider should cover certain costs related to your accident.

However, this coverage may not come easily. Contrary to what they may have you believe, insurance companies exist to make money above all else. In many cases, if insurers can help it, they will try to deny or lowball a claim for monetary recovery.

In this sort of event, a hit-and-run accident attorney will stand by your side and ensure that you receive fair treatment from your insurance provider. Your accident attorney will have a deep understanding of car insurance and what you are owed under your policy. Using this knowledge, your attorney can make sure that you receive the maximum possible coverage for your accident.

Contact Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers Today

If you have been hurt and suffered property damage in a hit-and-run accident, it is important to connect with a lawyer promptly. With Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers providing representation, you can be confident that you have maximized your chances of achieving financial recovery. Moreover, because we work on a contingency-fee basis, you won’t have to take on any additional financial stress in order to pursue justice. We will explore all routes to earn your compensation – and if we don’t succeed in winning that compensation, then you don’t have to pay us.

Even if you are still unsure of whether your case merits legal action, we can help you find the path to recovery that makes the most sense to you. Fill out our contact form or call (206) 312-0954 to schedule a free, confidential consultation today.