A hit and run accident is one in which the driver involved leaves the scene of the accident before a police officer arrives and without leaving his or her contact details. This creates pandemonium since without the contact details of the driver, it is difficult to establish the facts of the accident. Hit and run accident is a serious crime in various jurisdictions, and that is where a hit and run accident lawyer comes in handy.
The duties of a complainant hit and run accident lawyer
Hit and run is both a criminal and civil case. It could be misdemeanor or felony, depending on those involved and the damage caused. If the hit and run accident caused personal injury, damage to property or death, the complainant may file a case in court to seek compensation with the assistance of a hit and run accident lawyer. In this case, the lawyer defends the interests of his or her client in the litigation process.
The duties of a defendant hit and run accident lawyer
Once a hit and run accident is reported to the police, investigations are made in order to apprehend the driver concerned. Once he or she is caught, he is required to record a statement with the police, and that is when the services of a hit and run attorney become unavoidable. A defendant hit and run accident lawyer argues that his or her client was not on the wrong, and thus tries to invalidate the compensation claim filed by the complainant. The verdict of a hit and run accident depends on the nature of the accident, prior convictions of the driver, the extent of damage done to the complainant and cooperation with the law enforcement officers. It could be imprisonment, exorbitant fines, probation or disqualification from driving. These factors assist the defendant lawyer in phrasing his or her arguments.
Hiring a hit and run accident lawyer
Just like any other lawyer, hiring a hit and run accident lawyer is not always a walk in the park. This is because hiring an inexperienced lawyer is self-defeating logic. For instance, a plaintiff hit and run lawyer must understand that for a compensation claim to be successful, there must be a reasonable degree of injury, there should be no mistaken belief and the defendant should be the driver of the vehicle that caused the accident. On the other hand, the defendant lawyer should take advantages of availability of certain exemptions to the case to make a strong defense statement. He should also understand both the criminal and civil consequences of a hit and run accident.
Indeed, legal services are very important for smooth running of all the sectors of a country’s economy. This emphasizes the importance of hit and run accident lawyers in the litigation processes involving hit and run cases.