Legal Matters
presented by: Frank S. Buck P.C., Personal Injury
A hit and run wreck occurs when the driver of a vehicle hits another vehicle or pedestrian but leaves the scene of the crash. Leaving the scene of a motor vehicle wreck is illegal in Alabama and is a felony if it results in personal injury or death. Occasionally, the injured driver or an independent eyewitness is quickly able to write down the license tag number of the fleeing driver. With the tag number, the investigating police officer can track down the other driver to make a police report. Then the injured party will be able to see if the other driver that left the scene of the wreck has auto insurance coverage that can be used as compensation for the injuries and damages to his or her vehicle. However, if the fleeing driver cannot be tracked down, the injured party could still be compensated for his or her injuries, if he or she has an automobile insurance policy with full coverage, including uninsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage would kick in and pay for injuries when the other driver cannot be identified and is therefore an uninsured motorist.
Many people in Alabama have liability automobile insurance only but do not realize the importance of uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage in case of an injury. Liability insurance and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage are two separate coverages under a policy with separate premiums. Liability insurance protects other people if you cause a wreck and injure another person. However, if another driver hits you and either does not have enough insurance to compensate you for your injuries or does not have insurance at all, that is when your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is supposed to pay for your injuries and medical bills. Underinsured coverage comes into play when the other driver has liability insurance, but the policy limits are not enough to compensate the injured party for injuries. Uninsured motorist coverage is used when the other driver does not have any liability insurance.
Alabama law requires automobile insurance companies to automatically add uninsured motorist/underinsured coverage to policies unless the insured specifically rejects that coverage in writing when applying for a policy. Please do not reject uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. This coverage does not cost much and can go a long way if you are injured in a hit and run.
-Frank S. Buck, P.C., Attorneys at Law have been offering professional legal services and serving Alabama citizens for over 43 years. We have experienced trial attorneys who have over 100 years of combined trial experience. You can reach us 24 hours a day at (205) 933-7533. Please call us for a free consultation. Visit us at www.franksbuckpc.com.
