A hit-and-run accident involving a semi-truck can leave victims with serious injuries, mounting medical bills, and many unanswered questions. Although commercial truck drivers have a legal duty to stop after a crash, some leave the scene, making it more difficult to identify the responsible party.
Even if the truck is never located, you may still have options for recovering compensation through insurance claims, negligent trucking company claims, and other legal avenues with help from a St. Louis truck accident lawyer.
Call our firm today at (314) 300-6260.
Why Hit-and-Run Truck Accident Cases Can Be Complex
The defining challenge of a hit-and-run truck case is the unknown defendant. Until the truck and driver are identified, there is no one to hold directly accountable. Trying to figure out who caused the accident becomes the primary task in these cases, but it’s not that simple. Evidence in these cases is highly time-sensitive: surveillance footage is routinely overwritten within days, skid marks fade, and debris is cleared from the road.
Even if the truck is found, it’s still complicated. Insurance coverage disputes are common, as carriers and their insurers may deny the truck was involved or argue about which policy applies. Because semi-trucks routinely cross state lines, these cases can also require multi-state investigations involving different law enforcement agencies and jurisdictions.
Finally, as with any truck accident, there may be multiple potentially liable parties, such as the driver, the trucking company, and others, each of whom must be identified and pursued.
What Should You Do After a Hit-and-Run Semi-Truck Accident?
What you do in the minutes and days after a hit-and-run can have a significant impact on the outcome of the case. If you are able, take the following steps.
Call 911 Immediately
Reporting the crash right away creates an official record and gets law enforcement searching for the truck while it is still nearby.
Seek Emergency Medical Care
Your health comes first, and prompt medical treatment also documents the connection between the crash and your injuries (brain trauma, spinal cord damage, etc…). When these collisions result in life-threatening injuries or fatalities, they can become some of the most devastating types of fatal trucking accidents.
Write Down Everything You Remember
Details fade quickly, so record everything you can about the truck as soon as possible, including the truck color, any company logo, trailer markings, the DOT number, the license plate (even a partial), and the direction of travel. Even small fragments of information can help investigators narrow the search.
Take Photos and Videos
Photograph your vehicle’s damage, debris in the roadway, skid marks, paint transfer, and the surrounding area. All of this can help reconstruct the crash and identify the truck.
Look for Witnesses
Other drivers or bystanders may have seen the truck, its markings, or its license plate. Collect names and contact information before they leave the scene.
Check for Nearby Surveillance or Dash Cameras
Businesses, homes, and other vehicles in the area may have captured the truck on camera. Note their locations so the footage can be requested before it is erased.
Notify Your Insurance Company
Report the crash promptly, as your own policy may provide critical coverage, but stick to the basic facts and avoid recorded statements until you’ve spoken with an attorney.
Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer
An experienced St. Louis personal injury attorney can launch an immediate investigation, send preservation letters, and protect your claim while you focus on recovery.
Can You Recover Compensation If the Truck Is Never Found?
Even when the truck is never identified, you may still have a path to compensation. Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage under your own auto policy typically treats a hit-and-run driver as an uninsured driver, allowing you to recover damages through your own insurer.
Other insurance coverage may also apply depending on your policies, such as medical payments (MedPay) coverage, collision coverage for vehicle damage, or health insurance for treatment costs. In some cases, an investigation reveals additional liable parties you could recover compensation from.
For example, if roadway conditions or another driver contributed to the crash, you can file a claim against a government entity or the other responsible driver.
Ultimately, the coverage available depends on the specific facts of your case and the terms of the applicable insurance policies, which is why having an attorney review every potential source of recovery is so important.
Contact Our Firm Today For Help
If you or a loved one was injured by a semi-truck driver who fled the scene, don’t assume you’re out of options. The sooner our experienced truck accident attorneys begin investigating, the better the chances of identifying the truck and preserving the evidence your claim depends on. Even if the driver is never found, we can pursue every available source of compensation on your behalf.
Contact us today to schedule your free case evaluation.