We were all very surprised by the recent news of a Kentucky mayor accused of a hit and run which injured a child on their bicycle in Somerset. Kentucky State Police say the local mayor has been identified as the hit and run driver. He has been ordered to appear in court on a charge of leaving the scene of the accident. Police were not able to update the current condition of the child who was injured.
This case brings several legal questions to light. While the driver was ultimately identified and charged in this case, who would pay for injuries for the victim of a hit and run accident? Many Kentuckians are surprised to learn they are covered by the UnInsured Motorist/UnderInsured Motorist or UM/UIM portion of their own auto insurance policy. This applies to those who are injured by a hit and run driver while in a car, on foot or while riding their bicycle.
This is one of the many reasons why the experienced personal injury attorneys at HLH consistently remind families to maximize the amount of UM/UIM coverage on their own policy. Injuries to a child who is hit by a car while riding a bike can be quite severe, resulting in medical bills which quickly exceed lower UM/UIM policy limits.
The second issue associated with hit and run accidents is the surprise of our former clients at how they were treated by their own insurance companies in a UM/UIM claim. If you have been injured in a car accident, or as a pedestrian or bicyclist it is important to contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible after the accident.
HLH attorneys hold insurance companies accountable for their responsibilities under all circumstances including UM/UIM claims. We aggressively represent the interests of our injured clients to ensure they receive full and fair compensation for all they have been forced to endure.
We were all shocked by the hit and run which injured a child on their bicycle in Somerset. We wish the child in the case a full and speedy recovery.