hit and run motorcycle accidents Des Moines

The driver hit you, hurt you, and left you on the road. Hit and run motorcycle accidents in Des Moines often cause catastrophic injuries and significant stress, but you are not powerless. You still have control of what happens next and your potential recovery, and our Des Moines motorcycle accident lawyers can help.

How Hit and Run Motorcycle Accidents Happen

Iowa law makes leaving the scene of a crash a crime. If you were hurt in the accident and the other driver involved in the crash leaves the accident scene before the police arrive, then the other driver has committed a crime. However, before a driver can leave the crash scene, the accident must occur.

Hit and run motorcycle accidents happen for a wide variety of reasons, just like other types of accidents do. For example, a driver may cause a hit and run crash if the driver is:

  • Drunk
  • Under the influence of drugs
  • Tired
  • Distracted
  • Speeding
  • Aggressive
  • Otherwise negligent

Drivers leave a hit and run motorcycle accident scene for many reasons, including:

  • Being afraid of being charged with drunk driving or another crime
  • Being afraid of the financial liability of the accident, particularly if the driver was uninsured
  • Not realizing an accident occurred
  • Not knowing that the law requires all drivers to stop and cooperate with police after a hit and run motorcycle accident

Regardless of why your accident occurred or why the driver fled the accident scene, your potential injuries and the steps that you take to protect your legal recovery may be the same.

Common Hit and Run Injuries

Motorcycle accidents often happen when car and truck drivers fail to see motorcyclists until it’s too late. The force of the collision may cause severe injuries, including:

In some cases, riders may die because of motorcycle hit-and-run injuries. Sometimes these accidents happen immediately or soon after the crash, and other times they occur because of motorcycle accident injury complications. Either way, families are left grieving for the significant loss of their loved ones, and no one should have to go through that. Our Des Moines motorcycle accident lawyer can help you and your family recovery financially.

What to Do After a Hit and Run Motorcycle Accident in Des Moines

Your initial response to a hit-and-run accident will be much the same as it would be following any type of accident. If you are physically able to do so, then it’s essential to:

  • Call 911. The 911 dispatcher will send the police and medical first responders.
  • Cooperate with the police. According to our Des Moines motorcycle accident lawyer, you should provide the police with as much information as possible about the vehicle that hit you and fled the scene. This may include the make, model, and color of the vehicle, the vehicle’s direction of travel, a partial license plate number if you have one, and a description of the driver if you got a look at the driver.
  • Accept medical attention. Regardless of the severity of your symptoms, it’s essential to get prompt medical attention. Your doctor may diagnose your injuries, keep your injuries from getting worse, and help you manage your pain. Later, your medical records will help establish that the accident caused your injuries which will be essential for your legal recovery.
  • Contact your insurance agent. Do this at your earliest convenience. Often, hit-and-run drivers have no insurance coverage or inadequate insurance. Depending on your own uninsured motorist insurance coverage and the state in which your policy was issued, you may be eligible for compensation from your own insurer if the hit-and-run driver cannot be found or cannot pay for the damage.
  • If possible, take pictures of the accident scene. You can use your cellphone to take pictures if it still works after the accident. If possible, take a picture of your motorcycle and the damage it sustained. According to our Des Moines motorcycle accident lawyer, pictures will help your insurance adjuster—and your attorney, if you hire one—better assess the property damage and personal injuries that occurred during the collision.
  • Get the names and contact information for accident witnesses. Pedestrians, other motorists, and bystanders may have seen the accident occur. They may have gotten a good look at the other vehicle and possibly the other driver, and they may have essential information to share with you, your lawyer, and the police.

Your injuries may have prevented you from taking one or more of these steps after an accident. That’s okay. You may still be able to make a fair recovery.

From the time the crash occurs until your case is settled, we encourage you to:

  • Not confront the other driver directly. It may be tempting to find the other driver and confront them about what happened. However, this may not be a safe thing for you to do. The other driver could be dangerous. Accordingly, it’s a good idea to let the police and your attorney try to find the other driver.
  • Watch what you say. Anything that you say at the accident scene, to the insurance company, or on social media following the crash could be used against you in a way that you never intended.
  • Follow medical advice. Failing to follow medical advice could make your injuries worse and interfere with your legal recovery.
  • Stay organized. Keep records of all of your accident-related expenses and a journal about how the accident has impacted your life.

These steps and the skill of an experienced Des Moines motorcycle accident lawyer can help you make a fair recovery after a hit-and-run crash.

Get the Compensation You Deserve

Just because the other driver left the scene of the accident does not mean that the driver has escaped all responsibility for your accident, nor does it mean that you will have to bear the weight of your accident injuries. Instead, your motorcycle accident attorney will work hard to locate the other driver and to hold that driver accountable. If that can’t be done, your lawyer will look to your own insurance policy to help you recover the damages you deserve.

We will fight for your fair recovery of past, current, and future:

  • Healthcare expenses
  • Lost income
  • Physical pain
  • Emotional suffering
  • Other accident damages

Contact Our Des Moines Motorcycle Accident Lawyer for Representation Today!

Our Des Moines motorcycle accident lawyer are also riders. We understand what it may feel like to be hurt and left on the road while a car or truck driver flees the accident scene, and we want to help you make a fair recovery. Please contact us anytime to schedule your free initial consultation and to discuss your rights. Additionally, we invite you to download a free copy of our book, The Ultimate Guide for Motorcycle Accident Victims, to learn more now.

 

Jason F. Abraham
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Helping car accident and personal injury victims throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa since 1993.