The shock of a car accident intensifies when the other driver speeds away without stopping. This leaves you dealing with injuries, vehicle damage, and mounting bills, all without knowing who caused your suffering. At West Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers, we recognize the unique challenges that hit-and-run accidents create for Summerville residents. Our experienced Summerville hit and run accident lawyers help victims pursue justice and compensation even when the responsible driver attempts to evade accountability.
Decades of Dedicated Service to the Lowcountry
Since 1945, West Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers has served Summerville and surrounding communities as a family-owned practice deeply connected to the Lowcountry. Our roots run three generations deep in this community, giving us unmatched insight into local traffic patterns, regional insurance practices, and the South Carolina legal landscape. From our office in Moncks Corner, we extend our services throughout the Summerville area, bringing personalized legal support directly to hit-and-run accident victims when they need it most.
What Constitutes a Hit-and-Run Accident?
South Carolina law requires all drivers involved in accidents resulting in property damage, injury, or even death to stop at the scene, exchange information, and report the incident. A hit-and-run occurs when a driver fails to fulfill these legal obligations and instead leaves the scene. These incidents range from minor parking lot damage to severe crashes with serious injuries.
Common hit-and-run scenarios include:
- Drivers striking pedestrians in crosswalks, then fleeing
- Vehicle-to-vehicle collisions where one driver immediately leaves
- Motorists sideswiping parked cars without leaving contact information
- Cyclists being struck by vehicles that continue driving
The deliberate choice to flee makes these cases particularly troubling and often indicates the driver was engaging in additional illegal behavior, such as driving without insurance, operating under the influence, or driving with a suspended license.
Legal Consequences for Hit-and-Run Drivers in South Carolina
South Carolina imposes serious penalties on hit-and-run drivers. When accidents cause only property damage, fleeing drivers face misdemeanor charges with potential fines and up to one year of imprisonment. When accidents result in injuries or death, penalties escalate significantly. Drivers who flee accident scenes involving injuries risk felony charges, substantial fines, and up to 10 years imprisonment. Fatal hit-and-run cases carry even steeper consequences.
These criminal penalties exist alongside civil liability that hit-and-run drivers face when identified.
Our Summerville hit and run accident lawyers work diligently to ensure that when responsible parties are found, they are held accountable to the fullest extent of both criminal and civil law.
Recovery Options After a Hit-and-Run Accident
Many victims mistakenly believe that compensation becomes impossible when the responsible driver cannot be identified. However, several options remain available:
- Uninsured motorist coverage: Your auto insurance policy likely includes uninsured motorist coverage, which applies when accidents involve unidentified drivers. This coverage can help pay for medical expenses, lost wages, vehicle repairs, and pain and suffering. Our Summerville hit and run accident attorneys thoroughly examine your policy to identify all available coverage and ensure maximum benefits.
- Medical payments coverage: Many South Carolina drivers carry “med-pay” coverage that helps with immediate medical expenses regardless of fault. This coverage can provide crucial financial support while pursuing other compensation avenues.
- Health insurance: Your health insurance often covers accident-related medical treatment, though subrogation rights may apply if you later receive compensation from other sources.
- Investigation and driver identification: Our firm works with experienced investigators who specialize in locating hit-and-run drivers. Using witness statements, traffic camera footage, vehicle fragments, and other evidence, we frequently succeed in identifying drivers who believed they had escaped responsibility.
How Our Summerville Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyers Can Help
When you contact West Law Firm after a hit-and-run accident, we immediately begin a comprehensive process designed to protect your rights and secure fair compensation:
- We dispatch investigators promptly to collect time-sensitive evidence from the accident scene. Paint transfers, broken vehicle parts, security footage, and witness accounts provide crucial leads in identifying the responsible party.
- Our team handles all communication with insurance companies, preventing common pitfalls that often reduce compensation. We identify every applicable policy provision and prevent insurers from minimizing legitimate claims.
- We help coordinate proper medical documentation of all injuries, ensuring that your healthcare providers thoroughly record the accident-related harm you have suffered. This documentation forms the foundation of your damage claims.
- Whether through insurance claims or litigation against an identified driver, our Summerville hit and run accident attorneys will aggressively pursue full compensation for medical expenses, lost income, property damage, pain and suffering, and other applicable damages.
Time Limitations for Hit-and-Run Claims
South Carolina imposes a three-year statute of limitations for most personal injury claims, including hit-and-run accidents. This timeline creates urgency for a thorough investigation and prompt legal action. Insurance policies also contain notification deadlines that require quick action. Contacting legal representation immediately after a hit-and-run accident provides the best opportunity for identifying the responsible driver and preserving crucial evidence.
Contact Our Summerville Hit-and-Run Accident Attorney Today
The aftermath of a hit-and-run accident involves unique legal challenges that require specialized experience. The team at West Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers combines decades of legal expertise with genuine compassion for community members facing these difficult situations.
Do not allow a driver who fled the scene to escape responsibility for your injuries and losses.
Contact our office today to speak with a dedicated Summerville hit-and-run accident lawyer who will fight relentlessly for the compensation you deserve while you focus on recovery.