One second you’re driving, and the next, another vehicle slams into you and speeds off, leaving you hurt and stunned at the roadside. A hit-and-run is frightening and unfair, and it leaves you with a hard question: how do you recover when the driver who caused your crash is gone? You have more options than you might think, and an experienced West Virginia hit-and-run car accident lawyer can pursue every one of them. Hit by a driver who fled? We can help you now. Call 304-842-4300 for a free consultation. There’s no fee unless we win.
What to do right after a hit-and-run in West Virginia
What you do in the first hours after a West Virginia hit-and-run can make or break your claim. If you’re able, take these steps.
– Call 911. A police report documents the crash and starts the official search for the driver.
– Receive medical care right away, even if you feel fine. Some injuries surface days later, and a treatment gap gives insurers a reason to doubt you.
– Write down everything you remember about the other vehicle: its color, make, model, a partial plate, and the direction it fled.
– Photograph the scene, your injuries, the vehicle damage, debris, and skid marks.
– Look for witnesses and nearby cameras. Doorbell, traffic, and business security footage can identify a driver who thinks they got away.
– Report the crash to your own insurer promptly, but don’t give a recorded statement before you talk to us.
You can still recover compensation when the driver flees
A driver who runs may feel like a dead end. It isn’t. Several sources may cover your losses even when the at-fault driver is never found, including your medical bills, lost wages, future care, and pain and suffering.
Uninsured motorist coverage
Under West Virginia law, a hit-and-run driver is treated as an uninsured motorist. That means the uninsured motorist (UM) coverage on your own auto policy can pay for your injuries, just as if you were claiming against the driver who hit you. West Virginia requires uninsured motorist coverage on every auto policy for exactly this kind of situation.
MedPay
If you carry medical payments coverage, or MedPay, it helps pay your medical bills no matter who caused the crash. It can start covering treatment while the rest of your claim is still being worked out.
The police investigation
Hit-and-run drivers are identified more often than individuals expect. Camera footage, paint transfer, vehicle debris, and witness tips all help police track them down. We can request that nearby footage and evidence be preserved right away, before it’s lost. If the driver is found, we can pursue their liability insurance directly.
Don’t wait. Call 304-842-4300 now to protect your claim.
Why acting now matters
A hit-and-run claim gets weaker with every passing day. Surveillance video is often erased within days or weeks. Witnesses move and memories fade. Physical evidence at the scene disappears fast.
The law adds its own deadline. West Virginia gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit (W. Va. Code § 55-2-12), and your own policy may require much faster notice of a hit-and-run claim. Miss either deadline and you can lose your right to recover.
West Virginia also follows modified comparative negligence. You can still recover as long as you’re not more at fault for the crash than the other driver, though your compensation is reduced by your share of the blame. Insurers know this rule and may try to shift blame onto you. We push back.
How our attorneys build your hit-and-run claim fast
At Kaufman & McPherson, PLLC, our attorneys move fast because we know the evidence is slipping away. When you hire us, we track down and preserve camera footage before it’s deleted, interview witnesses while their memories are fresh, work with law enforcement on the search for the driver, and document the full extent of your injuries. We also handle your uninsured motorist claim, because your own insurance company isn’t always on your side. We take on the adjusters, the paperwork, and the deadlines so you can focus on healing.
We’re based in Bridgeport and represent injured individuals throughout all of West Virginia. Start your case now. Call 304-842-4300 for a free consultation.
Hit-and-run questions West Virginia drivers ask
What if I never find out who hit me?
You may still recover through the uninsured motorist coverage on your own policy. You don’t have to identify the driver to file a UM claim, though a prompt police report helps.
What if I didn’t call the police right away?
It’s still worth talking to us. A delay can make a hit-and-run claim harder to prove, but it doesn’t automatically end it. Report the crash to the police as soon as you can, then call us to go over your options.
What does it cost to hire a hit-and-run accident lawyer?
Nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee, which means no fee unless we win your case. Your consultation is always free.
The insurance company offered me a quick check. Should I take it?
Talk to us first. Early offers are often far lower than what your claim is worth, and once you accept, you usually cannot reopen it.
Hit by a driver who fled? We can help you now
You were hurt by someone who didn’t stop. You shouldn’t have to shoulder the medical bills and lost income on your own. Our attorneys know how to build hit-and-run claims across West Virginia, and we get started the moment you call. Don’t wait. Reach out to Kaufman & McPherson, PLLC, at 304-842-4300 now for a free consultation. No fee unless we win.
