Chicago Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer
Your accident case does not disappear with the driver who hit you and took off.
If the police cannot identify the driver, your uninsured motorist coverage may still pay for your medical bills, lost income, and other losses. But making a claim against your own insurance company does not mean they will make it easy. They can still dispute coverage, challenge your injuries, or argue over what your claim is worth.
Our Chicago hit-and-run accident lawyers at Ankin Law know how to handle that fight. We review your coverage, gather evidence from the crash, document your injuries and losses, and deal directly with the insurance company on your behalf. We have represented injured people in Chicago and throughout Illinois since 1940.
- We offer FREE consultations
- We’re available 24/7
- We can come to you if you are unable to get to our Chicago offices
“I’m Howard Ankin. The driver may have left the scene, but your case is not over. We’ll find the coverage, build the evidence, and fight for what you’re owed.”
— Howard Ankin, Founder of Ankin Law
Did the driver who hit you flee the scene? Call Ankin Law at (312) 600-0000 for a consultation with a Chicago hit-and-run accident lawyer.
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Injured in a Hit-and-Run as a Pedestrian?
Ankin Law Challenges Hit-and-Run Coverage Denial in Landmark Illinois Case
Ankin Law represented Carmen Galarza after a hit-and-run driver struck and seriously injured her while she was walking through a parking lot. Her insurer, Direct Auto Insurance Company, tried to deny uninsured motorist coverage because she was a pedestrian when the crash happened.
Galarza’s case became part of a broader appellate fight over Direct Auto’s attempt to limit uninsured motorist coverage to people occupying insured vehicles. In a related case involving the same policy restriction, the Illinois Appellate Court ruled that the restriction conflicted with Illinois law and could not be enforced against insured pedestrians and bicyclists injured by uninsured or hit-and-run drivers.
Common Reasons for Hit-and-Run Accidents in Chicago
Drivers leave accident scenes for many reasons. A driver may lack insurance or a valid license, may have been driving under the influence, or may have been committing another offense when the crash occurred. Regardless of why the driver left the scene, you may still have options for recovering compensation for your injuries.
Distracted Driving
A distracted driver may cause your accident while texting, using a phone, adjusting an in-vehicle system, or focusing on something other than the road. Evidence such as witness statements, surveillance footage, and information gathered during an investigation may help establish how the crash occurred.
Intoxication
Alcohol and drugs can impair a driver’s judgment, coordination, and reaction time. An impaired driver may cause a collision by speeding, running a red light, drifting from a lane, or failing to yield. If driving under the influence contributed to your accident, evidence gathered after the crash may help establish what happened.
Lack of Insurance
An uninsured driver may leave an accident scene rather than provide insurance information. If the driver who hit you cannot be identified or does not have insurance, your uninsured motorist coverage may provide a source of compensation. The coverage available will depend on your policy and the circumstances of your accident.
Driving Without a License
A driver who does not have a valid license may leave the scene after causing a crash. If police later identify the driver, information uncovered during their investigation may become important evidence in your injury claim.
Vehicle Theft
A driver operating a stolen vehicle may flee after causing an accident. Even when police cannot immediately identify the person behind the wheel, you should preserve evidence from the scene and report the crash. Photos, witness information, surveillance footage, and details about the fleeing vehicle may help with the investigation and your insurance claim.
The reason a driver fled may affect the evidence available in your case, but you do not necessarily need to know why the driver left to pursue a claim. A Chicago hit-and-run accident lawyer can investigate the crash, preserve available evidence, review your insurance coverage, and determine which sources of compensation may apply to your injuries and losses.
Can I Use My Uninsured/Underinsured Policy to Recover My Damages?
Yes, your own auto insurance policy may provide coverage after a hit-and-run accident. If the driver who hit you cannot be identified, your uninsured motorist coverage may provide compensation for covered losses. If police identify the driver and that person has insurance but not enough to cover your damages, your underinsured motorist coverage may also become relevant.
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage: If the driver who caused your accident has no insurance or cannot be identified after a hit-and-run, you may be able to make a claim through your own uninsured motorist coverage. Depending on your policy and claim, available compensation may include medical expenses, lost income, and other covered losses.
- Underinsured Motorist Coverage: If the driver is identified and has liability insurance, but the policy limits are insufficient to cover your damages, your underinsured motorist coverage may provide additional compensation, subject to your policy and applicable Illinois law.
Filing a claim with your own insurer does not mean the claim will automatically be paid at the amount you request. Your insurance company may investigate the accident, your injuries, your medical treatment, and the value of your losses before paying benefits. A Chicago hit-and-run accident lawyer can review your policy, document your damages, handle communications with your insurer, and challenge an improper denial or undervaluation of your claim.
Is your insurance company fighting your claim? Call Ankin Law at (312) 600-0000 for help.
What Happens If a Hit-and-Run Driver Is Found?
If police identify the hit-and-run driver who caused your accident, you may gain another potential source of compensation. Depending on the driver’s insurance coverage and the circumstances of your crash, you may be able to pursue a claim against the driver and his or her insurer.
Finding the driver can affect your case in several ways:
- Insurance Coverage: If the driver has liability insurance, you may be able to pursue compensation through that policy for your medical expenses, lost income, property damage, pain and suffering, and other covered losses.
- Additional Evidence: Identifying the driver may uncover evidence about how your car accident occurred. Police reports, witness statements, vehicle damage, video footage, and other evidence may help establish the driver’s liability.
- A Personal Injury Claim: Depending on the facts of your case, you may have grounds to pursue a personal injury claim against the driver for the damages caused by the crash.
- Your UM/UIM Claim: Identifying the driver does not necessarily end the insurance issues in your case. The driver’s insurance status and policy limits may affect whether your uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage applies.
A hit-and-run driver may also face criminal penalties for leaving the scene, but those proceedings are separate from your personal injury claim. A Chicago hit-and-run accident lawyer can determine how identifying the driver affects your insurance coverage and your options for recovering compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hit-and-Run Accident Claims
A hit-and-run can leave you with questions about your insurance coverage, evidence, and options for recovering compensation. These answers address common concerns after a hit-and-run accident in Chicago.
What Do I Do in a Hit-and-Run Accident?
If you are involved in a hit-and-run accident, follow these steps:
- Ensure Safety: Move to a safe location if possible and check for injuries. Call 911 immediately for medical assistance or police help.
- Collect Information: Write down the fleeing vehicle’s license plate number, make, model, color, and other details you remember. Get witness contact information when possible.
- Report the Accident: Notify law enforcement and provide as much information as you can about the crash.
- Document the Scene: Photograph your vehicle, visible injuries, debris, road conditions, and other relevant evidence.
- Contact Your Insurance: Report the accident even if the other driver has not been identified. Your uninsured motorist coverage may apply.
- Contact a Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer: Call our law firm right away. We can review your insurance coverage, preserve evidence, and help you pursue compensation for your injuries and losses.
How Do I Report a Hit-and-Run Accident?
To report a hit-and-run accident in Chicago, you can file a police report with an officer at the scene of the crash. You can also report the accident to the Illinois State Police within 10 days if an officer does not arrive at the accident scene. A trooper at your local police department may also be able to take a desk report.
Can I Make a Hit-and-Run Claim as a Pedestrian?
Yes. If a hit-and-run driver strikes you while you are walking, your uninsured motorist coverage may apply even though you were not inside your vehicle. Your available coverage will depend on your policy and the circumstances of the accident. An attorney can review your policy and determine which insurance benefits may apply to your injuries and losses.
How Long Do I Have to File a Hit-and-Run Accident Claim?
The deadline for pursuing compensation after an Illinois hit-and-run accident can depend on the type of claim you are filing and the terms of your insurance policy. Deadlines for a personal injury lawsuit and an uninsured motorist claim may differ. Reviewing your policy and taking action immediately can help you avoid missing a deadline that applies to your claim.
What If the Other Driver Gave Me False Contact Information?
If the other driver gave false contact or insurance information, report it to law enforcement and your insurance company. Preserve anything the driver provided, along with photos, witness information, and other evidence from the accident. If the driver cannot be located or lacks insurance, your uninsured motorist coverage may provide another option for pursuing compensation.
Ankin delivers outstanding service, and Alex Quigley is a prime example of their commitment to client care. If you’re looking for a law firm that truly puts its clients first, I highly recommend reaching out to them.
Talk to a Chicago Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer
You may still have a path to compensation even when the driver who hit you leaves the scene. Ankin Law can review your insurance coverage, investigate your accident, preserve evidence, and help you pursue the benefits that may be available for your injuries and losses.
Call Ankin Law at (312) 600-0000 for a consultation with a Chicago hit-and-run accident lawyer.