If you were injured in a hit-and-run accident and a witness is identified at a later date, it could significantly improve your chances of securing the compensation you need. While a single witness may not be sufficient to locate and hold the at-fault party financially accountable for their actions, the case could become stronger if the witness’s testimony helps uncover additional evidence.
What to Do Immediately After Finding a Witness
Immediately after locating a hit-and-run witness, you should ask for their name and contact information. It is best to obtain multiple contact methods for the witness, such as their home address, phone number, and email address.
You do not need to get the witness’s testimony yourself. However, it may be useful to have them write it down or record it immediately if it has been some time since the accident. Memories fade over time, and having the witness note what they remember as soon as possible can be helpful, even if it is only a few sentences.
Your lawyer will use the contact information you obtained to follow up with the witness to gather their full testimony.
How the New Witness Affects Liability and Evidence
If you already had other witnesses to the hit-and-run, the addition of a single new witness may not change much. However, if there were previously no witnesses and the hit-and-run driver has not yet been identified, a witness statement in an Alabama car accident case could be crucial.
Generally, the Alabama statute of limitations gives car accident victims two years to file lawsuits against the parties responsible for their injuries. However, the time limit may not begin until the at-fault party is identified. If a witness helps identify the at-fault party later on, you may still be entitled to file a case against them.
It is also worth noting that just because the hit-and-run driver has not yet been identified, that does not mean you cannot recover any compensation. You can file an uninsured motorist (UM) claim with your insurance provider in the meantime, if you purchased that optional coverage. You may also have additional options depending on your insurance coverage and whether any third parties were at fault for the crash.
Why Hiring an Attorney with Experience in Hit-and-Run Cases Is Important
Hiring our skilled hit-and-run attorneys in Huntsville is essential for your case because we can use our knowledge and experience to track down leads and explore avenues of seeking compensation that you may not realize exist.
For example, if the at-fault driver cannot be found, our lawyers can help you file an uninsured motorist claim or seek to hold other parties that contributed to the accident accountable, such as other drivers, vehicle manufacturers, or government agencies whose negligence contributed to the crash.
Our lawyers can calculate the value of your claim based on your medical expenses, lost wages, pain, suffering, lasting disabilities, property damage, and other factors. Once the at-fault driver is identified, we can represent you in negotiations with their insurance provider, seeking a fair settlement or taking your case to trial if a settlement cannot be reached.
To get started on your case, contact Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., for a free consultation with a member of our legal team. We will review the accident that caused your injuries and explain the process for handling hit-and-run collisions.
