Hit-and-run accidents can be devastating, especially if there isn’t a clear path to compensation for victims. Because of the financial impact, it’s important to know whether or not your car insurance will go up after a hit-and-run in Maryland.
The only time your car insurance should go up after a hit-and-run in Maryland is if you are at fault and identified. Victims not at fault for an accident don’t have to worry about their premiums rising after a hit-and-run. However, these types of accidents can financially affect victims in other ways if they are unable to recover compensatory damages. An attorney can help car accident victims in Maryland locate a negligent driver and recover damages through an insurance claim or a lawsuit.
The Maryland lawyers at Rice, Murtha & Psoras care about supporting car accident victims. Our team can help you get the compensation you deserve after a hit-and-run. For a free case evaluation, call the Maryland car accident lawyers at Rice, Murtha & Psoras today at (410) 694-7291.
Will Your Car Insurance Go Up If You Are Not At-Fault for a Hit-and-Run in Maryland?
Car accidents can be frightening, especially if they result in injuries to you or other passengers. When accidents are caused by a negligent driver who then flees the scene, you may begin to wonder what that means for your insurance. If you were not at fault for a hit-and-run accident in Maryland, will your car insurance go up?
Usually, car insurance premiums rise after a claim is filed against you. Because Maryland is a fault state, there’s no reason another driver would file a claim against your insurance if you did not cause a hit-and-run accident. In fact, if you are injured in a car accident in Maryland, you should file a claim against the negligent driver’s insurance for damages. That can be difficult if a responsible driver leaves the scene after an accident.
Car accident victims can speak to a Maryland car lawyer to find another path to compensation. For example, if you have uninsured motorist or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, you may be able to recover compensation through that. Identifying a driver from a hit-and-run accident can require resources and experience from a lawyer and law enforcement, however once a driver is identified you can file a lawsuit for compensatory damages.
Will Your Car Insurance Go Up If You Are at Fault for a Hit-and-Run in Maryland?
Car accidents are complicated enough, but leaving the scene without exchanging insurance information in Maryland is against the law. Not only that, but if a driver was at fault for a hit-and-run accident in Maryland, their insurance would almost certainly go up.
When a claim is filed against a negligent driver’s insurance after an accident in Maryland, their premiums will likely rise. However, leaving the accident scene without exchanging information can be even more costly. the average dollar increase on an at-fault driver’s insurance premium after a car accident in Maryland about $538, or a 50% increase.
Remember, the only scenario in which your car insurance will go up after a hit-and-run is if you were to blame for an accident. Victims in Maryland don’t have to worry about their premiums increasing for an accident they did not cause. If you were injured in a car hit-and-run, our Baltimore car accident injury lawyers can help you get the damages you need. We can also deal with the insurance companies so you don’t have to.
Should You Notify Your Insurance of a Hit-and-Run in Maryland?
If you’re a victim of a hit-and-run accident in Maryland, what should you do? Remember, Maryland is a fault state, meaning you wouldn’t usually contact your own insurance provider after a car accident. So, what’s the protocol for the aftermath of a hit-and-run? Should you notify your insurance? Who else should you seek help from?
Although Maryland is a fault state, it doesn’t hurt to contact your own insurance after a hit-and-run accident. Luckily, your premiums won’t go up in this case. Depending on your insurance plan, your carrier may help cover damages if the negligent driver’s identity is unknown. If you also have UM/UIM coverage, you may be able to recover damages after a hit-and-run accident in Maryland.
If the negligent driver’s identity remains unknown, a victim’s only course to compensation may be to file a claim under their UM/UIM coverage. If that’s the case, your insurance premiums will likely not rise as you did not cause the accident and are not a risk to insure. However, during settlement discussions with an insurance company regarding UM/UIM claims, it is crucial to have a Maryland hit-and-run lawyer by your side.
Regardless, it’s important to contact an Ocean City car accident lawyer after a hit-and-run accident. An attorney can help you through discussions with your insurance provider and investigate an accident. Through an attorney’s resources and experience, and with help from Maryland law enforcement, you may be able to identify the responsible driver in a hit-and-run accident.
If your insurer fails to compensate you for your injuries because you do not have UM/UIM coverage, there is still potential for litigation. If law enforcement officials and your attorney can locate the individual responsible for your injuries, you can file a lawsuit for compensatory damages against the negligent driver.
Our Attorneys Can Help You After a Hit-and-Run in Maryland
If you’ve been injured in a hit-and-run car accident in Maryland, our attorneys can help you find the best path to compensation. Call the Rockville car accident lawyers at Rice, Murtha & Psoras for a free case evaluation today at (410) 694-7291.