According to a recent article from the Chicago Tribune, a driver crashed his car into a local 7-Eleven convenience store and then fled the scene. Witnesses are reporting that the driver went into to the convenience store to get a carton of milk.
Police searched the area for someone matching defendant’s description. Police later found the man, arrested him and took him into custody. Defendant told police that he went to the store to get a carton of milk, and, when he hit the brake to stop, the pedal stuck and would not depress. Unable to stop, he ran into the store.
Defendant was placed under arrest for driving without a license, leaving the scene of an accident (hit-and-run), and failing to give his information to the storeowner before leaving the scene. Defendant was taken to the county jail where he was to be held until his arraignment.
Our Boston motor vehicle injury attorneys can explain that while this is a strange accident, hit-and-run accidents happen all the time. Many times, the driver who caused an accident is never found. If the driver is found, it may be very difficult to convict the driver of the hit-and-run because of the fact that someone must identify him or her as the person driving the car. It may not be enough to prove that defendant owned the vehicle at the time of the accident.
In many of these cases, the victim of the car accident that was caused by a hit-and-run driver, must file a claim with their own insurance company, making a UM or UIM claim. UM is an abbreviation for uninsured motorist coverage and UIM is short for underinsured motorist.
Every person who buys car insurance in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is offered UM/UIM with policy limits up to the limits of the liability insurance purchased. Even if you have never heard the terms UM or UIM, you probably have this coverage, unless you specifically, and in writing, decline UM/UIM coverage.
Uninsured motorist coverage, as it sounds, is designed to compensate the victim of a car accident caused by a driver who does not have any insurance. If the at-fault driver did not have a valid driver’s license, it is very likely that that driver also lacked car insurance.
Underinsured motorist coverage is designed to compensate a victim of a car accident caused by a driver who had insurance but had less insurance coverage than needed to fully compensate the victim. While you will be dealing with your own insurance company, you should still contact a lawyer to assist you with the matter.
Even though you are a customer of theirs and may not have had any accidents for years and always pay your premium on time, the insurance company may deny your initial claim for benefits, and you may even have to take them to court.
If you are injured in an accident in Boston, call Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers for a free and confidential appointment: (617) 777-7777.
Additional Resources:
Car crashes through DuPage 7-Eleven, man charged, September 14, 2014, Chicago Tribune
More Blog Entries:
Why Do Boston Drivers Hit and Run?, July 3, 2014, Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog