Car accidents can leave injured victims feeling shocked and bewildered. When the accident is caused by a negligent driver who flees the scene, that shock and bewilderment can turn to outrage.
In Billings recently, a hit and run driver injured a 70-year-old woman in a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Mullowney Lane and King Avenue West. According to police, the accident occurred at about 8 p.m. on a Saturday evening, when a white Dodge truck made a left turn and failed to yield the right of way at the intersection. The truck collided with a 2011 Mercedes carrying four children and two adults. The injured woman was a passenger in the Mercedes. She was taken to Billings Clinic for treatment of her injuries.
The driver of the Dodge truck fled the accident scene and was last seen heading east on Interstate 90. At the time this post was prepared, Billings police had not yet located the driver, and we’re asking the public for help.
When a person is injured in a car accident caused by a hit and run driver, they may be left wondering how they can make a claim for personal injuries. If the police are able to identify and apprehend the negligent driver, the victim can of course sue that driver. But if the hit and run driver is never caught, or if they are caught but found to have no insurance, the victim may still have a remedy if they have uninsured motorist coverage in their own insurance policy.
Uninsured motorist coverage provides insurance coverage to an accident victim who is injured by an uninsured driver, or by a hit and run driver who cannot be identified. Insurance companies are required to offer the coverage in Montana, but the customer can reject it. If the accident victim has the coverage, they can make a claim against their own insurance company for the damages that would have been recoverable from the liability coverage of the uninsured or hit and run driver, up to the limits of the uninsured coverage.
Source: KTVQ.com, “Hit-and-run sends 1 to hospital,” Dec. 22, 2013
At Colton Holm Law Firm, we look forward to learning how we can help you resolve your legal concern.Call us today: (406) 259-9986