Immediately contact the local or state police department after a hit-and-run incident in New Mexico. If you are severely injured, call 911 and obtain immediate medical attention. If you are not immediately transported by ambulance to the emergency room, make sure and visit your doctor within 72 hours. Regardless of visible injuries, make sure that you seek medical care and to ensure that you are ok and ensure that you do not jeopardize a potential insurance claim in the future.
New Mexico hit-and-run injury victims can file a compensation claim under our state’s personal injury laws. A personal injury lawyer at our office offers the following information for managing the aftermath.
7 Steps to Take After a Hit-and-Run Accident
The reasonableness by which you respond after a hit-and-run accident could be factored in your insurance claim or civil court lawsuit. Therefore, it is vital to cover your bases and act rationally even though this situation is highly stressful.
Here are seven steps to take after a hit-and-run accident in New Mexico:
- Step 1. Seek immediate medical attention
- Step 2. File a police report
- Step 3. If possible, gather photos and insurance information and maintain meticulous records about the incident
- Step 4. Speak with a lawyer if you suffered from serious injuries
- Step 5. File your claim and take care not to admit fault
- Step 6. Tell the insurance company you want to think about your settlement
- Step 7. Run the offer by your lawyer to determine if it is fair
Dealing with the aftermath of a hit-and-run accident is often too much to handle alone alongside your recovery. Insurance companies are professionals at handling injury claims, and this situation is likely your first experience. You can opt to hire a personal injury lawyer to handle your case.
A personal injury lawyer can assist in a follow-up investigation regarding the driver who left the accident scene. Finding this person is vital for filing an injury claim. Especially, if you do not have uninsured/underinsured motorist (UI/UM) coverage.
Important Information About Dealing Insurance Companies
You purchased an insurance policy, and the company is only required to meet current insurance laws as well as the terms listed in the contractual language. However, there are elements of a New Mexico personal injury hit-and-run accident claim that is open to interpretation on both the part of the adjuster and experts, such as the injury’s severity and your degree of fault.
Never Admit Fault
As you are interacting with your insurance company, it is crucial that you do not make self-incriminating statements. Even seemingly innocuous comments or affable admissions of fault can be used against you later to reduce the liability to pay for your benefits on behalf of the insurer.
Review Your Policy
They are likely not imagining the stress and pain that customers endure after hit-and-run accidents. Make sure that you review your policy and its terms and conditions before filing a claim. The language is confusing and technical, so it will take some time to read through it.
The First Offer
What if the amount you are offered is unfair or denied altogether? In that case, the next step is to reach out to a New Mexico personal injury and go after the money you deserve through negotiations or litigation. However, we strongly urge you to speak with a legal professional from the outset of your case to protect it from claim denials.
Your Obligations
Seeking immediate medical attention for hit-and-run accidents is crucial for a few reasons. First, it reduces the likelihood of future physical injury and damage. Second, the insurance company cannot claim that your injuries were made worse by your lack of due diligence.
Do not allow insurance companies to deny your claim because you did not go to the hospital within the timeframe specified in your insurance policy. When you win your New Mexico personal injury claim, these expenses are recoverable. Make sure your file your claim before the statute of limitations as well.
Contact a New Mexico Personal Injury Lawyers for Legal Advice
Grano Law Offices, P.C. helps New Mexico injury victims who have suffered from a hit-and-run accident. If you or your family member experienced an injury or experienced loss of life, you have the right to go after compensation through a negotiated insurance settlement or civil award. This award pays for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages when negligence plays a role in your accident.
Contact Marc Grano for a Free Case Evaluation now by calling (505) 426-8711 or submitting a message through our contact form below. We do not get paid until you win your case.
