Imagine someone sideswipes your vehicle on the Highway 17 Bypass in Myrtle Beach, SC, forcing you into the median or onto the shoulder. You may collide with other cars or hit a roadside object, yet the other driver does not stop. South Carolina requires at-fault drivers to pay for the injuries and damage they cause, but what can you do when they leave the scene of the accident?
Fortunately, you can call the Shelly Leeke Law Firm and speak with a Myrtle Beach hit-and-run accident lawyer. During a free case review, we assess and explain your legal options. Contact us to learn how you can use insurance to pay for your losses while a Myrtle Beach car accident lawyer helps you search for the wrongdoer who harmed you.
Why Hit-and-Run Accidents Are Worse than Most Car Accidents
Under the South Carolina Code of Laws §56-5-1220, drivers involved in accidents are required to stop and remain at the scene. They must exchange contact and insurance information, render aid (usually by calling 911), and wait until law enforcement officers indicate they can leave. Drivers who hit parked cars or other stationary objects are also required to try to find the property owner or leave their contact details.
When you have been left hurt in a disabled car, you likely rely on others to be considerate enough to stop and help. If a driver simply drives away and leaves you helpless until someone else comes to your aid, you are probably angry, confused, and distressed. The emotional toll and worry over whether you will find the driver to hold them accountable can be overwhelming.
At Shelly Leeke, your Myrtle personal injury lawyer will be at your side to help you in your emotional, physical, and financial recovery. We will thoroughly investigate the accident and work with police and other professionals to find the person at fault. Our team does not rest until we can secure justice for you or your loved one.
How SC Law Defines a Hit and Run Accident
Under the SC Code of Laws Title 56, a hit-and-run crash is when a driver causes injury, property damage, or death to another person and leaves without obeying their legal duties. They do not provide their information, they do not render aid, and they do not report the accident. If they are caught by authorities, they can face criminal charges, as well as a personal injury lawsuit from those they harmed.
Hit-and-run drivers convicted of property damage may be put in jail for up to 30 days and pay heavy fines. If they hurt someone, the charge is elevated to a felony, carrying as much as a year in prison and $5,000 in fines. They will also lose their license. If they cause great bodily injury, a conviction means up to ten years in prison with $10,000 in fines, and a conviction for death from a hit and run equals 25 years imprisonment and $25,000 in fines.
Common Reasons Someone Might Flee an Accident Scene
Most of us live our lives considering others and ensuring we do not hurt anyone intentionally. Accidents do happen, and we usually take care to look after others if we can help them in some way. This moral drive is backed up by SC state law to stop and help if we are involved in an accident.
It can be confusing when another driver simply leaves and does not offer help or take responsibility. Each hit-and-run accident lawyer in Myrtle Beach on our team has managed many cases where finding the other driver was the first step in securing compensation for their client. Here are some of the common reasons we have seen why someone would leave a crash site:
- Emotionally upset or road-raging
- Did not realize an accident had occurred
- Did not have insurance
- The license was suspended or revoked
- Under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Hit a stationary object and thought it was ok to leave
- Had a warrant for their arrest
- Scared of the consequences of an accident
None of these is a valid excuse for leaving an accident or denying liability, especially when the person has hurt you or a loved one. You deserve to have every option available to locate them and ensure they are held responsible for their reckless or negligent actions. At Shelly Leeke, that is just what we will do for you.
How You Can Pay Your Damages Until the Hit and Run Driver Is Found
Your hit-and-run accident attorney in Myrtle Beach will begin working to identify the other driver. We take photos of your injuries and the property damage, interview witnesses, and collect video from all available sources. We will coordinate with authorities to locate who caused the crash and why they left.
In the meantime, your attorney will help you file insurance claims with your own policies. In South Carolina, all drivers must carry liability insurance to pay for injuries and damage to others, but until the other person is found, you can use your own medical insurance and uninsured driver coverage. When the driver is located, your insurance company will negotiate with them to settle the costs of the damages they paid.
Our team will collect all relevant evidence to demonstrate what happened, how the other driver is to blame, and the extent of your injuries. We use that information to reach a satisfactory settlement with your insurance providers, but it also helps when we locate the at-fault driver. If we need to file a personal injury lawsuit against them, your hit-and-run accident lawyer is already prepared to take them to court.
Contact a Myrtle Beach Hit and Run Accident Lawyer to Get Help Today
You can pursue compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and automobile damage after a hit-and-run accident. In certain circumstances, you can also get financial relief for emotional distress, PTSD, pain, and the suffering you experience. When you need help finding someone who left the scene of a crash, contact the Shelly Leeke Law Firm to schedule a free consultation with a Myrtle Beach hit-and-run accident attorney.
