Nashville Hit and run accident lawyers

Nashville Hit-and-Run Lawyers

Hit-and-run car accident attorneys in Nashville, Hendersonville, and Clarksville

At Rocky McElhaney Law Firm, our Nashville hit-and-run lawyers are here to help you obtain justice when you have been injured in an accident where the other driver fled the scene. From our offices in Nashville, Hendersonville, East Nashville, and Clarksville, we build strong cases to protect the rights of our clients after they have suffered a serious injury. We work to find the driver who caused your accident. When the driver cannot be found, we file an uninsured/uninsured (UM/UIM) claim on your behalf.

Cases We Handle

Nashville personal injury lawyer

How can we help?

Why do hit-and-run accidents happen in Tennessee?

The “hit” part of a hit-and-run accident is usually due to some type of driver negligence or carelessness. Common reasons for accidents include:

  • Speeding
  • Driving while intoxicated
  • Driving while distracted, such as texting while driving
  • Running a red light or failing to yield
  • Driving too fast for weather or traffic conditions
  • Driving while tired

While there are those rare cases where a driver flees the scene because he/she wasn’t aware they struck someone, the “run” part of a hit-and-run accident is usually because the driver knows he/she is likely to be charged with a criminal or traffic offense. Common charges that may be filed include:

  • Not having a valid driver’s license
  • Not having the required liability insurance
  • Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Texting while driving
  • Speeding or other obvious traffic violations
  • A prior criminal record
  • Illegal drugs or firearms in the car
  • Being on probation

Some drivers run just because they are scared.

What should I do after a hit-and-run accident in Nashville?

If you are involved in a hit-and-run accident, you should call the police immediately. They can investigate the accident and speak to any witnesses. Sometimes, identifying the type of car and something about the driver can help lead to an arrest.

  • Seek medical help at the nearest emergency room if you are injured or have the police make transportation arrangements.
  • Contact your own insurance company and inform them that you were involved in an accident.
  • You should contact our experienced Nashville personal injury lawyers as soon as possible.

We’ll explain your rights, answer your questions, and discuss how your claim will be handled.

How can a Nashville hit-and-run lawyer help me?

With the increasing number of people being involved in hit-and-run accidents, the Nashville hit-and-run lawyers at Rocky McElhaney Law Firm have helped countless people get compensation for their injuries and losses. Sometimes we are able to discover the identity of the driver who ran because of a witness statement or by tracing their plates, or because they turned themselves in to the authorities. Nearby businesses and homeowners may have helpful videos. We then do everything possible to hold the right person accountable for their actions.

Can I file a UM/UIM claim through my own insurance company?

When we and the police are unable to track down the driver who left the scene, we can help you file a claim with your own insurance company under the uninsured/ underinsured motorist coverage on your policy.

All car drivers in Tennessee are required to have liability insurance coverage. When you buy liability insurance for your car, you should also purchase UM/UIM insurance and collision insurance.

Your UM/UIM insurance can be used in the event a hit-and-run accident happens. Our Nashville hit-and-run accident lawyers will do the detailed work such as notifying your carrier, getting a copy of the police report, and showing a hit-and-run accident occurred. We’ll then present your claim before your own UM/UIM carrier. This presentation includes showing that the hit-and-run accident did cause your injuries, verifying the injuries you do have, and explaining all the ways the injuries have impacted your life.

Our UM/UIM claim will demand compensation for all your medical bills, lost income, property damage, pain and suffering, scarring and disfigurement, and other permissible damages – up to the insurance policy limits of your coverage. We’ll negotiate the claim for you with your insurance carrier. We will pursue your claim in court if necessary. Most hit-and-run UM/UIM claims do settle once it’s made clear that a hit-and-run accident did happen.

If you have collision insurance, we also work to obtain the cost to fix or replace your car.

What are the penalties in Tennessee for leaving the scene of an accident?

In Tennessee, as in almost every other jurisdiction, you are required by law to stop at the scene of an accident that you have been involved in. If anyone died, anyone was injured, or there was any damage to a vehicle, the drivers are required to:

  • Give their name, address, and vehicle registration number
  • On request, and if available, display their operator’s or chauffeur’s license

This information should be given to the person who was struck and the driver or occupant of the vehicles involved in the crash.

The drivers should also:

Render to any person injured in the accident reasonable assistance, including the carrying, or the making of arrangements for the carrying, of the person to a physician, surgeon, or hospital for medical or surgical treatment if it is apparent that treatment is necessary or if carrying is requested by the injured person.

The hit-and-run obligations apply to “accidents occurring upon highways and the premises of any shopping center, trailer park or any apartment house complex, or any other premises that are generally frequented by the public at large.”

Drivers who fail to meet these requirements can be charged with misdemeanor crimes. The charge is a Class B misdemeanor if the value of the damage is $1500 or less and a Class A misdemeanor if the value of the damage is more than $1500. The penalties can include jail time, fines, loss of driving privileges, and other consequences.

Tennessee law provides that “It is a Class E felony for any person to fail to stop or to comply with the requirements of [the statutes] when the person knew or should reasonably have known that death resulted from the accident.”

Do you have a hit-and-run lawyer near me?

Our Nashville hit-and-run lawyer meet clients at:

  • Our Nashville office is located at Mainstream Drive, #105.
  • Our East Nashville office is located at 615 Main Street., B21.

Our car accident lawyers also meet clients and families in Hendersonville and Clarksville. If you’re in ill health, we’ll arrange to discuss your claim at your home, a healthcare facility, by telephone, or through a video conference.

Rocky McElhaney Law Firm is respected by former clients, insurance companies, and defense lawyers for our dedication to our clients and our prestigious record of settlements and verdicts – many for millions of dollars. Attorney Rocky McElhaney has been named a Nashville Best attorney eight years in a row.

Related information on hit-and-run accidents in Nashville

Talk to an experienced Nashville hit-and-run lawyer now

When you have survived the anguish of having been injured in a hit-and-run car accident, you want justice for the wrong that was done to you. The Nashville hit-and-run accident attorneys at Rocky McElhaney Law Firm are ready to take on the legal challenge on your behalf and fight to win the compensation you need to get on with your life. Schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your case by calling our offices or filling out our contact form. We serve clients in Nashville, East Nashville, Hendersonville, and Clarksville.

Visit our Nashville Offices

Rocky McElhaney Law Firm
545 Mainstream Dr., #105
Nashville, TN 37228
Phone: (615) 425-2500

Rocky McElhaney Law Firm
615 Main St., B21,
Nashville, TN 37206
Phone: (615) 393-8585