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Fargo Hit-and-Run Accident Attorneys
Aggressive advocacy for hit-and-run victims in Fargo, ND
Whether in a vehicle, on foot, or cycling, the harm done by hit-and-run drivers can be severe. It’s also disheartening to suffer injuries and have the person responsible flee the scene, leaving you alone, vulnerable, and at a loss when it comes to seeking accountability. While these cases are never easy, there are steps you can take to seek compensation, even in the event of a hit-and-run crash in Fargo. If you’ve sustained injuries in one of these collisions, don’t hesitate to reach out to Larson Law Injury & Accident Lawyers.
Table of contents
- How can we help with a hit-and-run case in Fargo?
- Recoverable damages in hit-and-run collisions in Fargo, North Dakota
- How insurance works in hit-and-run cases in Fargo
- Why do people flee the scene of a car accident?
- How does a hit-and-run investigation work?
- Can you claim compensation for a hit-and-run?
- Filing a hit-and-run accident lawsuit
- Fargo hit-and-run FAQs
- Why hire a hit-and-run accident lawyer in Fargo?
Free Case Evaluation
Call 701-484-4878 now or fill out the form above to receive a free confidential consultation.
How can we help with a hit-and-run case in Fargo?
If you suffered injuries in a hit-and-run case in Fargo, there are some steps you need to take as quickly as possible to protect your claim. If you contact us, we can help you decide what to do next. Some of the actions to take include:
- Reporting the crash and obtaining a Fargo Police Department report. The law requires that you report crashes that result in injury, death, or $4,000+ in property damage. Plus, the likelihood of identifying the driver is higher if you start taking action right away.
- Gathering all medical documentation and making sure that you have access to any coverage, like PIP.
- Looking for footage from downtown corridors, parking ramps, business districts, and dash cams that might have caught the crash or the fleeing driver on camera.
- Canvassing for witnesses who might have seen something useful.
- Speaking to insurers and avoiding harmful recorded statements. We can speak to insurers on your behalf to reduce the risk that they use your statements to limit your compensation.
Your car accident lawyer can help you through all of these steps and handle many of these complicated issues for you.
Recoverable damages in hit-and-run collisions in Fargo, North Dakota
Damage categories in North Dakota include your economic and non-economic losses. For instance, you might recover for medical expenses, lost income, property damages, and other financial costs related to the incident and your injuries. Your economic damages include future losses as well, such as if your earning capacity is lower because of your injuries.
Non-economic damages cover things that are harder to quantify, like your pain and suffering. Your lawyer can help you understand what these numbers may look like in your case and how you can possibly increase the amount you might be able to collect.
How insurance works in hit-and-run cases in Fargo
North Dakota is a no-fault state with PIP coverage for certain economic damages related to any crash – often including a hit-and-run. In cases where you don’t identify the driver, or you do find them, but they don’t have insurance, you may be able to use your own uninsured motorist insurance to cover costs related to your injuries. If you find the driver and they’re insured, but don’t have enough to cover your losses, you might be able to file an underinsured motorist claim.
Collecting for your non-economic damages, like your pain and suffering, generally requires that you meet the serious injury threshold. With the high cost of medical care, it’s often not difficult to meet the required amount of $2,500 or more in order to recover outside of PIP coverage.
Why do people flee the scene of a car accident?
There are many reasons that a driver may flee after causing a crash. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of them panicking or being frightened. However, there are other common reasons that include:
- The driver knows there are active warrants for their arrest or is wanted in connection with serious crimes. Here, the motive could be avoiding arrest and incarceration.
- The driver may lack insurance and be afraid of having to cover crash-related costs out of pocket.
- The driver may be traveling on a suspended license and knows there will be severe consequences and penalties for their actions.
- The driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, is not thinking straight, and is also afraid of facing criminal DUI charges.
None of these reasons would qualify as an excuse for the driver’s actions. Fleeing the scene is either a misdemeanor or a felony under North Dakota law, depending on the severity of the crash and whether the damage was just to property or caused bodily harm.
How does a hit-and-run investigation work?
When it comes to a hit-and-run crash, there are sometimes ways to track down the at-fault driver. In urban locations, like Fargo, the chances might be better because there could be more business cameras or witnesses in the area, along with other evidence. While there is no guarantee that law enforcement or others will be able to identify the responsible driver, it’s always worth investigating. Also, your lawyer can help preserve some of this evidence by sending out preservation letters.
Can you claim compensation for a hit-and-run?
If you suffered injuries in a hit-and-run crash, don’t become discouraged. PIP may help cover your losses, and the UM pathway might be available for additional coverage. In the case of serious injuries, you can likely overcome the PIP limits, meaning you may be able to collect damages for your pain and suffering.
Filing a hit-and-run accident lawsuit
In some cases, you may choose to file a hit-and-run lawsuit. However, it won’t always be the best pathway forward. In cases where you find the driver, or there are disputes regarding your insurance coverage, litigation could be the option that is most likely to yield results. Remember that in such cases, there is a statute of limitations that will prevent you from filing your claim if you wait too long. In North Dakota, you have six years to file a personal injury lawsuit, and just two to file a wrongful death action. However, it’s extremely important that you don’t count on that timeline when it comes to finding a lawyer and starting to collect evidence. The sooner you reach out, the better situation you’ll be in when it comes to recovering for your damages.
Fargo hit-and-run FAQs
What if I didn’t realize right away that the other driver fled the scene?
If you were too injured to realize what was happening, the important thing is to report the accident as soon as possible. We can work to try to identify what happened based on available evidence.
Can a hit-and-run involve pedestrians or cyclists, not just vehicles?
Yes, hit-and-run laws apply to pedestrians and bicyclists as well. In such cases, there is a higher injury risk, making it more important than ever to find a legal representative.
What if there were no witnesses to my hit-and-run crash?
Many successful cases proceed without eyewitnesses, so don’t give up just because there aren’t witnesses. Other forms of evidence can support the claim, including physical damage patterns, medical findings, and time and location data.
Do hit-and-run cases take longer to resolve than other car accident claims?
Hit-and-run cases can involve additional investigation steps, which may cause them to take longer than other cases. Insurance review and coverage disputes can further extend timelines. Other issues that may make a hit-and-run case take longer include the severity of injuries and the lack of cooperation from insurers.
What if I was partially at fault when the hit-and-run happened?
Being partially at fault does not automatically bar recovery for personal injuries in North Dakota. As long as you are less than 50% at fault for your injuries, you can recover from the other negligent at-fault party. Courts will reduce your damages to reflect your responsibility in causing the collision. Common partial-fault scenarios in rear-end crashes may include lane changes where the front driver cuts off the rear driver and multi-vehicle collisions where more than two drivers might be to blame.
Insurers may try to exaggerate the victim’s share of fault to reduce the amount they have to pay out. Your attorney can work to counter those arguments.
What if the hit-and-run driver was driving a company vehicle?
If the driver was working at the time of the crash, for instance, in the case of a delivery driver, their employer may be vicariously liable for the crash. This is another reason that early investigation matters.
How much does it cost to hire a hit-and-run accident lawyer?
Personal injury firms like Larson Law operate on a contingency-fee structure. Essentially, this means there are no upfront legal fees and no attorney’s fee unless you recover compensation. We can explain how this works in detail during your initial consultation.
Why hire a hit-and-run accident lawyer in Fargo?
At Larson Law, we have a conveniently located office in Fargo where we offer free consultations to prospective clients. You can visit us at 3220 South 18th Street, Suite 8C, Fargo, North Dakota 58104, or speak to us by phone or through a video call. If you were injured by a hit-and-run driver in Fargo, and you’re trying to figure out what to do next, call us today or fill out our online form to schedule a consultation. We are prepared to walk you through each step and to advocate for you from day one.