What is the name of your state?North Carolina
My 8 yr old daughter and I were in a car accident on 10/16/05 around 9pm. I was travelling west on a 4 lane road in a well lit area that turns into a major highway. The person that hit me was going east. I was going about 45 mph in the left lane, when the other driver decided to make a U turn at a crossover at the moment I happened to be approaching. We collided nearly head on, and when I came to, witnesses told me that the other driver and passengers had fled the scene, leaving the vehicle behind. Later, the police informed me the persons in the other vehicle had been drinking, but the driver had not been found yet, just the passenger, who claimed not to know the name of the driver. It's been established that the owner of the vehicle did have insurance and he appears to be one of the passengers. He has admitted that he hit me. My vehicle has been declared a total loss, but I am confused as to what happens now. Do I really need a lawyer in this case or should I just settle with the insurance company? What do I do with the medical bills, and what will happen with the loss of the vehicle, a '95 model that was valued around $5000? Any advice would be appreciated.
My 8 yr old daughter and I were in a car accident on 10/16/05 around 9pm. I was travelling west on a 4 lane road in a well lit area that turns into a major highway. The person that hit me was going east. I was going about 45 mph in the left lane, when the other driver decided to make a U turn at a crossover at the moment I happened to be approaching. We collided nearly head on, and when I came to, witnesses told me that the other driver and passengers had fled the scene, leaving the vehicle behind. Later, the police informed me the persons in the other vehicle had been drinking, but the driver had not been found yet, just the passenger, who claimed not to know the name of the driver. It's been established that the owner of the vehicle did have insurance and he appears to be one of the passengers. He has admitted that he hit me. My vehicle has been declared a total loss, but I am confused as to what happens now. Do I really need a lawyer in this case or should I just settle with the insurance company? What do I do with the medical bills, and what will happen with the loss of the vehicle, a '95 model that was valued around $5000? Any advice would be appreciated.