Posted in Car Accident,Negligence,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law on January 13, 2015
Springfield Police Searching for Hit-and-Run Driver Connected to Fatal Accident
A driver who caused a hit-and-run accident that led to the death of a 37-year-old Springfield, Tennessee, man last month is still on the run.
According to a report by wsmv.com, the accident occurred on Dec. 30, 2014, when the man was out for a run on Memorial Boulevard in Springfield. As he crossed in front of a car shop, the driver of a truck ran over him and never stopped.
By the time police arrived at the scene of the accident, the man was already dead. Witnesses stated that the man who caused the accident was driving a white Chevrolet pickup truck manufactured between 1980 and 2000, and that it may have been an S10 extended cab model. In addition, the truck is believed to have damage to its passenger side fender, bumper, and hood.
The Nashville car accident attorneys at Matt Hardin Law extend our condolences to the victim of this hit-and-run accident and hope the police are able to locate the driver of the pickup truck.
Steps to Take If You’re Involved in an Accident
If you’re ever involved in a car accident where you or another person suffered injuries, there a few steps you should take to legally protect yourself and make sure any injured people get the help they need:
Call 911 right away after an accident. Doing so not only reports it to police, but it also means an ambulance will arrive with paramedics who can treat any injuries that you or other drivers or passengers may have suffered in the accident. The police will also create an accident report that serves as official evidence of the accident and prevents any driver from receiving charges of leaving the scene of an accident.
Even if the accident doesn’t seem serious at the time or if emergency crews are taking a long time to respond, it’s vital that you stay at the scene of the accident until police arrive. Leaving the scene of an accident before speaking with police in person can not only jeopardize your chances of receiving compensation if you suffered injuries in the accident, but it’s also against the law and could led to your arrest.
When police arrive at the scene of the accident, they may ask for your assistance if you’re able to help. Do your best to render any aid if you’re capable of doing so, and answer any questions the police ask you about the accident. However, it’s important to never admit fault for the accident and to never volunteer information that goes beyond the police officer’s questions.
Whether you were in an accident involving another moving vehicle or you hit a parked car or other piece of property without leaving a note, report the accident to police and the owner of the property as soon as possible if you left the scene. Although you may still be charged with leaving the scene of an accident, the charges are often less severe if you report the incident yourself.
At Matt Hardin Law, our Nashville car accident lawyers know that hit-run-accidents leave families devastated. Not only is their loved one injured, but they also face an uncertain future without knowing who or what caused the accident to begin with.
If you were the victim of a hit-and-run accident, our legal team can help you recover compensation for your accident-related expenses. We’ll work with police to identify and locate the driver, and if he or she can’t be found, we can help you get compensation from your own insurance policy. Don’t let a hit-and-run accident put you a financial bind—call us today at (615) 200-1111 or fill out a free online form.
