Jill: Good morning everyone! I'm Jill Bollwerk and this is Andy Pichler. We're attorneys at Bollwerk and Associates, a personal injury law firm here in St. Louis, Missouri. Welcome to episode number two of Coffee with the Counselors!
Today's Topic: Hit and Run Accidents
Jill: Today we're going to talk about hit and runs and what you should do if you're the victim of one.
Andy: There's nothing worse than someone hitting you and then leaving the scene, leaving you thinking, "Wait a minute, what just happened to me?" We get these calls frequently.
What To Do After a Hit and Run
Jill: Andy, what kind of advice do we give to people who say they were just in an accident where someone ran away?
Andy: If somebody calls about a hit and run, the first things I want to know are:
- Did anybody witness the event who could confirm your side of things?
- Is there any evidence found at the scene?
- Are there any businesses nearby or street cameras that could have caught the accident?
Jill: Speaking of evidence, I had an interesting case once where the evidence was the other driver's license plate that fell off their car - perfect evidence! In that case, we were able to locate the driver. But most of the time, they often get away.
Important Steps to Take Following a St. Louis Area Hit and Run Accident
Call the Police
Andy: Make sure that an officer comes out and gets a report, including your statement and the statements of any witnesses.
Contact Insurance
Jill: Since there's no other driver to make a claim against, you'll need to contact your own insurance company right away, especially if you were injured.
Insurance Coverage Types
Jill: There are two types of coverage that can come into play in these situations:
Collision Coverage
- This covers damage to your vehicle
- If you only have liability coverage and didn't purchase collision coverage, you won't be covered for property damage if the other driver can't be identified
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
- This covers your injuries
- It's mandatory coverage on every policy in Missouri
How Uninsured Motorist Claims Work
Jill: Andy, what happens when you file an uninsured motorist claim with your own carrier?
Andy: At that point, your own carrier essentially steps into the shoes of the other driver that left the scene.
Jill: And they defend it as if they're defending the other driver, correct?
Andy: Correct.
Key Takeaways
After a hit and run, it's crucial to:
- Contact the police immediately
- Look for evidence at the scene
- Contact your insurance company right away
These cases can be hard-fought by your own insurance company, so it's important to do everything possible to try to identify the other driver.
Jill: We thought we might be talking about firecracker and firework injuries today since our last episode was on July 3rd, but fortunately, we didn't get any of those calls.
Andy: Happy to not receive those calls!
Jill: If you have an idea for a topic for a future episode, we would love to hear it. Please put it in the comments, and we'll see you next time with a cup of coffee in our hands.
Both: Until next week, bye!
