Joliet Hit and Run Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured by a hit and run driver in Joliet, The Kryder Law Group, LLC Accident & Injury Lawyers can help. We represent seriously injured car accident victims in Joliet and throughout Will and Kendall Counties.

A hit and run car accident is a serious crime in Illinois. If you have been the victim of a hit and run, it is important to know your rights and to contact an experienced Joliet hit and run accident lawyer as soon as possible. Our Joliet car accident lawyers will pursue a number of avenues to collect damages, including strategies to recover compensation if we cannot identify the driver who fled the scene of your car accident.

A Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

At The Kryder Law Group, LLC, our Joliet hit and run accident lawyers have represented many injured victims of hit and run car accidents. We understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll that these types of motor vehicle accidents can take on victims and their families, and we will work tirelessly to get you the compensation you deserve.

We will review your case and explain your legal options. If we represent you, we will do so on a contingency fee basis, which means you will owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

Call today for a free consultation with our Joliet auto accident attorneys.

Hit and Run Laws in Illinois

Under Illinois law (625 ILCS 5/11-401), a driver that gets into a car accident that causes personal injury or kills someone must stop at the scene of the car crash—or as close to the scene as safely possible. They have a duty (625 ILCS 5/11-403) to remain at the scene until information has been given and aid has been rendered.

Actions Punishable by a Class 4 Felony

A driver is guilty of a hit and run when they fail to stop at the scene of a car accident and provide their information to the other driver or police and render aid to any injured person. Failing to stop at an accident can result in a class 4 felony.

Actions Punishable by a Class 2 Felony

If a driver does not remain at the scene of an accident with injuries or fatalities, within 30 minutes of the accident they must contact the police and file a police report about what happened. They must report the exact location and time of the crash as well as the suspected nature of the injuries that resulted.

If they have been hospitalized, they have 30 minutes after they are discharged from the hospital to make the report. A driver who fails to stop at the scene and to report the accident within a half-hour window is guilty of a class 2 felony.

Actions Punishable by a Class 1 Felony

If the car accident results in a death and the driver left the scene of the accident and did not report it, they are guilty of a class 1 felony.

Leaving the scene of a traffic accident, in addition to being a felony, does not absolve a driver of responsibility for any injuries or property damage they caused in the crash. When they are identified and caught, they will still be held liable for damages—and perhaps at an even greater level, as by fleeing the scene and not reporting the accident, they exhibited additional negligence and potentially kept the injured parties from getting the timely care they needed.

After a Hit and Run Accident in Joliet, Illinois

After you’ve suffered injuries in a hit and run accident in Joliet, be sure to seek medical care. Some injuries suffered in car accidents may not be immediately apparent, but could still have a long-term impact on your health. It is important to get a full evaluation from a doctor so that you can document the nature and extent of your injuries.

Seek Legal Representation

Once you’ve been seen by a doctor, your next step should be to contact an experienced Joliet car accident lawyer to seek their legal services. At The Kryder Law Group, LLC, the Joliet, IL attorneys at our law firm will do everything in their power to collect evidence and build a strong car accident case against the hit and run driver who caused your serious injuries. We will also work with your insurance company to help you get the compensation you need to cover your medical bills including future medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.

Proving Fault

If the hit and run driver who caused your accident is caught, your Joliet hit and run accident lawyer can use the fact that they fled the accident scene as compelling evidence of their negligence and culpability, even if the specifics of the accident itself are disputable or ambiguous.

After all, if a driver did nothing wrong and had nothing to hide, why would they not stay on the scene as the law requires? Why flee and risk a felony conviction? This lapse in judgement is often seen in drunk driving accidents.

Call Us Today

The sooner your lawyer can start investigating your case and gathering evidence, the better the chance of identifying the responsible driver and holding them liable. So, don’t delay—contact The Kryder Law Group, LLC Accident & Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation. Our legal team will work diligently to track down the hit and run driver to get you the justice and compensation you deserve. Call today for a free case evaluation.

Recovering Damages After a Hit and Run Accident in Joliet

Because hit and run accidents are by definition, a driver leaving the scene of an accident, it can be difficult to track down the responsible party and hold them liable for your injuries. But, even if the driver is not caught, you may still be able to pursue fair compensation through your own insurance company policy.

You Can Still Recover Losses

Under Illinois law (215 ILCS 5/143a), uninsured motorist coverage is required in all car insurance policies. This means that if you are hit by a driver who flees the scene and is not caught, or who doesn’t have insurance, your own policy will cover your damages up to the limit of your uninsured motorist coverage.

For example, let’s say you have the minimum required $25,000 in uninsured motorist coverage, and you are hit by a driver who flees the scene. Your medical bills total $25,000. In this case, your insurance company may pay you the full $25,000 for your medical bills.

We Will Fight for Fair Compensation

If you have been seriously injured in a hit and run accident in Joliet, The Kryder Law Group, LLC Accident & Injury Lawyers can help you recover the compensation you need to cover your damages. We are experienced at handling car accident lawsuits and we will work with your insurance company and fight for the full amount of coverage you are entitled to under your policy and personal injury law.

We will also investigate the accident to try to identify the hit and run driver so that we can hold them accountable for their actions.

Recoverable Damages in a Hit and Run Case

When you have been seriously injured by a hit and run driver in a motor vehicle accident, you may be eligible for:

• Medical bills – past and future medical costs and expenses related to the injuries you suffered in the accident

• Lost wages – if your injuries have caused you to miss work or lose the ability to earn an income in the future

• Reduced earning capacity – if your injuries have caused a reduction in your ability to earn an income

• Pain and suffering – damages for the physical pain and emotional anguish caused by your injuries

• Loss of enjoyment of life – when your injuries cause you to lose the ability to participate in activities you once enjoyed

• Wrongful death – if you lost a loved one to a hit and run driver, you may be eligible for financial compensation including funeral and burial expenses in addition to the other types of recoverable damages mentioned above

Our Experience is Ready to Work for You

If the identity of the other driver is unknown because they fled the scene, it can be challenging to hold the right party accountable. At The Kryder Law Group, LLC, we have a diligent investigative staff that has had success with past clients in tracking down hit and run drivers and bringing them to justice.

We understand how devastating a hit and run accident can be, and we are here to help. Contact The Kryder Law Group, LLC today.

Time Limits on Recovery After a Hit and Run Accident in Joliet

You have a limited amount of time to take legal action for Joliet car accident cases. In Illinois, the statute of limitations gives you two years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you do not take legal action within this time frame, you will be barred from doing so and will not be able to recover any compensation for your injuries.

Our Car Accident Attorneys Can Help While You Recover

This may seem like a long time, but it is important to remember that it can take time to investigate the accident and track down the hit and run driver. In addition, if you are seriously injured, you may not be able to take legal action right away. That is why it is important to contact an experienced Joliet hit and run accident lawyer who handles personal injury cases as soon as possible after your accident.

We Are Ready to Help

At The Kryder Law Group, LLC, we will immediately begin working on your case to make sure we meet the deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit. Our law firm will also work quickly to investigate the accident and track down the hit and run driver so that we can hold them accountable for their actions.