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Hit and Run Bicycle Accidents
June 6, 2013

There has been a large amount of media attention recently on bicycle crashes occurring throughout Indiana, and many of these bike accidents involve hit-and-run motorists. Depending on the area of the accident, the time of day, and other factors, a motorist may not stop after colliding with a bicyclist or pedestrian. Hit and run accidents occur most frequently in areas where there is not heavy traffic. Generally, in less densely populated areas and late at night is when these types of accidents occur because the motorist thinks he or she has a better chance of escaping the situation without being held responsible when less people are around. As we will explain later, even if the hit and run driver does get away, this DOES NOT mean that you will be unable to recover for the damages you endure from the collision.hitandrun

If you have been the victim of a hit and run crash in Indiana, whether in your car, on your bicycle or motorcycle, or as a pedestrian, this does not mean that the fleeing perpetrator will get away without justice being served. Many times, unbeknownst to the hit and run driver, there are surveillance cameras in the area that can be used to trace the type of vehicle, the person inside the vehicle, and sometimes the license plate number. Additionally, there are often witnesses around who will either see the collision immediately or come to the scene shortly after due to the loud sound caused by the crash. Generally, these tidbits of information combined with local law enforcement’s criminal pursuit of the driver will help lead to an eventual identification of the criminal hit and run driver.

The first step to take as a bicyclist or pedestrian in any type of accident is to call the police if possible to report the bicycle accident and, most importantly, to obtain the necessary treatment of any injuries you may have sustained. You may be wondering: who is going to pay for all these medical bills since the driver got away? Under normal circumstances, the at-fault driver’s automobile insurance policy would cover the damages sustained by any injured biker or pedestrian. The extent of your injuries and the driver’s insurance policy limits would determine the amount of compensation you are entitled to in order to cover these expenses. As this is a complicated area of law that we specialize in, contact us for further assistance.

However, even if the driver gets away, this does not mean you are out of luck in terms of being compensated for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Many automobile insurance carriers have coverage for “Uninsured Motorist” incidents. What does this mean? Most times, depending on the insurer, this means that if you are in a car accident, bicycle accident, or are a pedestrian hit by a vehicle that does not have insurance or if you are hit by a hit-and-run driver, you are entitled to the uninsured motorist coverage that your insurance policy provides. Many people are unaware of this element of coverage within your insurance policy. Even when you are on your bike and are hit by a hit and run motorist, your policy may cover your medical bills and entitle you to economic damages for the loss of enjoyment of life you experienced as a result.

If you have been in a bicycle accident in Indiana, especially one with a hit-and-run driver, you need to contact an Indiana bicycle accident lawyer who specializes in this area of the law. Caress Law Group’s Indiana Bicycle Lawyers are Indiana’s leading bicycle litigation law firm and have 20+ years of experience in assisting injured victims in Indiana. Caress Law Group is conveniently located in central Indianapolis just south of Broad Ripple, and attorneys Tim Caress and Lance Worland are always available for a free consultation. If we can assist you in any way or if you have any questions about this post, don’t hesitate to Contact Us at 317-255-5400 or by e-mailing us at Lance@CaressLaw.com. We look forward to assisting you in any way possible.

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Caress Law Group’s Indiana Bicycle Lawyers are the leading Indiana personal injury attorneys who dedicate a significant portion of their law practice to representing victims of bicycle accidents. Please contact us at any time at 317-255-5400 or by clicking the "Contact Us" tab above.
We look forward to helping you on your path to recovery.