It has been reported that an 11-year-old child was struck by a truck early Thursday morning. The driver of the offending truck then fled the scene of the accident.
Sgt. Paul Parizek, of the Des Moines Police Department, confirmed that officers were dispatched to the 200 block of Easton Boulevard. The child reportedly suffered minor injuries and was taken to Iowa Methodist Medical Center.
The hit and run truck, believed to be blue in color, was witnessed leaving the scene heading east on Easton Boulevard. The incident continues to be investigated.
Hit and Run Personal Injury Claims
In situations like the one above, people too often think that there is no legal recourse since the vehicle that caused the accident fled the scene; however, that is only part of the equation.
What first has to be determined in hit and run cases is whether or not the party who was injured has his or her own insurance. Secondly, if there is a valid policy, that policy has to be reviewed to determine if there is “uninsured motorist coverage” which is commonly referred to as “UM” insurance.
UM insurance is a level of protection that is found on many auto policies. By paying your insurance premium, your insurance company agrees to “stand in the shoes” of an uninsured driver thus allowing you to make a personal injury claim against your own policy.
From the personal injury lawyer’s standpoint, UM claims are handled much the same way as third-party liability cases. However, a UM claim is actually a contract claim made against your insurance policy (contract) as opposed to a tort claim which is made against another person with whom you do not have a contract.
Contact Us
If you or a loved one has been injured in a hit and run accident, contact one of our personal injury lawyers today for a free consultation. We can be reached at 515-493-4878 . As always we never charge a fee unless we make a recovery for you.
