Posted in Car Accident,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law on October 1, 2016
Injuries Reported after Hit-and-Run Accident on Interstate 40 East
A hit-and-run accident resulted in two people suffering injuries late Tuesday night on Interstate 40 in West Nashville.
According to a report by WKRN.com, the accident occurred in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 40 near the Interstate 440 split. Metro Nashville Police say that after an initial investigation, they believe another vehicle may have struck the victims’ truck, causing it to exit the roadway and end up in a ditch. The driver of the other vehicle then fled the scene.
Both victims were transported to a local hospital to receive treatment for injuries that aren’t considered life-threatening at this time.
Officers say that a K-9 unit was called to the scene, but didn’t report why it was needed. In addition, a gun was also found at the scene, which may belong to one of the victims. No further information about the accident has been released at this time.
How Do Police Locate Drivers after Hit-and-Run Accidents?
Finding a hit-and-run driver can be a challenge—especially if the driver immediately fled the scene after the accident occurred. However, there are a few ways that police departments and their teams of investigators can piece together who the driver may be, or at least what he or she looks like and the type of vehicle that was involved.
Some of the ways that investigators can begin to identify and locate hit-and-run drivers include:
When accidents occur in urban areas or near busy shopping complexes, there’s a good chance that either the accidents themselves are caught on camera or the vehicles involved are caught on camera as they drive near the scenes of the crashes. Police can review footage from both traffic cameras and nearby retail security cameras to gain information about accidents.
Police can gain valuable information by collecting witness statements from both the victims and anyone who was near the accident scene. This information can help police quickly create a description of the suspect and his or her vehicle. Important information can include things like vehicle make and model, color, and even partial or complete license plate numbers. In addition, witnesses may also be able to provide descriptions of hit-and-run drivers.
Even if police have no security camera footage or witness statements to analyze or review, they can still determine the vehicle that was involved in a hit-and-run accident by gathering physical evidence. Small pieces of debris, like pieces of headlight, bumper, or fender, may fall off vehicles during impact and end up on the roadway or near the accident scene. In addition, accidents can cause paint from one vehicle to end up on another. Investigators can use this evidence to determine the make, model, and color of a vehicle that was involved in a hit-and-run accident.
The Nashville auto accident attorneys at Matt Hardin Law know how devastating hit-and-run accidents can be for victims. In addition to suffering serious injuries and sustaining damage to their vehicles, victims also are left wondering if the people who hurt them will ever be found. They also may wonder if they will be able to pursue compensation for their accident-related expenses, such as medical bills, lost wages, and vehicle repair costs.
Our legal team understands these concerns, and we know that victims are often put in tough situations when they’re too hurt to go back to work. Thankfully, we can help victims pursue compensation through multiple avenues, whether it’s taking action immediately after police identify the driver, locating a witness who can help identify the driver, or filing a claim with the victim’s own insurance company.
If you or someone you love was injured in a hit-and-run accident, get in touch with us today to get the help you deserve. Just dial (615) 200-1111 or complete a free online consultation form. We’re ready to put our experience and dedication to work for your family.
