Geico is one of the leading insurers in the country. They provide automobile insurance to millions of customers. However, the company does not always make good on its policies, and the victims of car accidents may be left with no way to pay off debts. Hit and run accidents are one commonly seen area where Geico is likely to deny requests unless you have a specific policy option selected. In order to ensure that you receive fair compensation from Geico after a hit and run accident, you may need legal representation. Our law firm, the Downtown LA Law Group, can guarantee that you are given the most dedicated and accurate representation in the Los Angeles area.

What is a hit and run accident?

A hit and run accident is defined as an automobile crash wherein the driver responsible for the incident flees the scene of the accident. This can happen when you are sideswiped or when someone runs a red light and crashes into you, and then suddenly flees the scene. Hit and run accidents commonly happen when there is next to no traffic around, in deserted or less populated areas, and late at night. The chances of the driver being identified are slim, and it is a common response to simply flee the scene, especially if the other driver’s vehicle is incapacitated. This is, of course, extremely dangerous – the victim of the incident may very well need immediate medical attention and may not be able to call 911 himself. If the other driver does not stand by to help, the victim could be seriously hurt.

Hit and run accidents are one of the most frustrating incidents to occur because of the lack of leads and evidence to go on. Without a license plate and noticed damage to the vehicle, police officers may not be able to adequately locate the suspect. Thus, you will not have an opposing insurance company to pursue compensation from, and you will have to turn to your own coverage from Geico.

What is Geico’s uninsured motorist policy?

Geico offers uninsured motorist coverage as an addition to its policies. This means that you are not given uninsured coverage when you select any policy; it must be purchased separately. Drivers in California must purchase insurance coverage with at least $15,000 in liability ($30,000 for liability for more than one person) and $5,000 in property damage. The cost of the plan varies, but it is generally very low. However, once you add uninsured motorist coverage to the plan, it becomes more expenses. This may be a worthwhile investment – if you are involved in a hit and run accident but you do not have any uninsured coverage, you will be completely on your own for expenses and debts.

California does not require that drivers purchase uninsured motorist coverage.

Can Geico cover my car damage if I was involved in a hit and run incident?

Geico offers uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) that can be purchased as a separate policy or can be included in several higher-end policies. It allows you to receive compensation if your vehicle is damaged by a driver who fled the scene. Without this coverage, you will not be able to secure any restitution.

Does Geico cover medical costs if I was involved in a hit and run accident?

Geico can cover medical costs and other losses with its uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage (UMBI). It allows you to be paid fairly for your losses. The company can reimburse you if you were injured and needed to go to the hospital; if a family member died; if you were unable to return to work; and if you were emotionally devastated from the event.

You should always look into purchasing this coverage if you can, as it will allow you to be safe in the event of a hit and run incident.

How do I know if my policy contains UMBI or UMPD coverage?

With Geico, you can view and edit your coverage at any time. This allows you to check to see what kind of policy you have, what your deductible is, and more. You can simply log into your Geico account to see if your policy includes uninsured coverage; if not, you may be able to upgrade by speaking with a representative or by going through the online process.

What do I do if I have no uninsured motorist coverage?

If you do not have uninsured motorist coverage and you were hit in a hit and run accident, you may be forced to pay for the damages out of your own pocket. You could file a claim with personal injury protection if you have it, but you may not, which brings you back to square one.

What if Geico refuses to pay for a hit and run accident?

Geico may refuse to pay for a hit and run accident if you do not have any uninsured motorist coverage, but if you do have the proper plan, you are entitled to a certain amount of compensation. If the company still refuses to pay, you should seek legal action. The company can be held accountable and may potentially face a bad faith lawsuit if they do not respond to your claim in a timely fashion or if they deliberately tamper with it to withhold payment from you.

Your best bet to move forward is to file a lawsuit against Geico.

How do I file a claim against Geico for coverage after a hit and run?

In order to sue Geico, you will need a fair amount of evidence on your side. If you were to sue another driver’s insurance company, you would include his insurance details and license number. You will not have this proof in your claim, so you should supplement it with as much other evidence as you can. You should make sure that you go to the hospital for medical treatment and that you hold on to any receipts and results from the visit. Proof of this treatment will be crucial, as will the length of time it took you to go get medical assistance. if you waited weeks to go to the doctor, it could be very dangerous for your claim, as the insurance agent at Geico may simply think you caused an accident yourself and you are blaming it on a mysterious driver.

You should also have photographs of your injuries, pictures of the scene of the accident, pictures of the damage done to your car, and more. If you have dashboard camera footage, it will come in handy, although it may not show the full extent of the incident. You could also try and get security footage or surveillance videos if your car were in a gated lot or at a commercial store, but this may be difficult. You should call the police and file a police report. Be sure to ask for a copy of this report after it has been finalized. There may have been various other eyewitnesses or drivers who saw the incident take place but were unable to identify the driver, make of the vehicle, license plate, or other information. You can add their statements and testimonies to your claim so that there is proof that you were not at fault – other people can corroborate it. Finally, it is important that you do not go through with the claim by yourself. If you try to handle a hit and run lawsuit against Geico without legal representation, your case may be thrown away or ignored. Our team of attorneys can work on your case from start to finish and ensure that you are fairly represented. You can instead focus on recovering and returning to normal life after the incident while we work on the legal legwork.

What’s the statute of limitations on a hit and run claim against Geico?

In California, you have 2 years from the date of the injury to file a hit and run claim against your insurance company. Geico will likely evaluate your case around 2 weeks after receiving it, and will make you an offer based on the evidence you have provided. If you do not sue within this time period, your claim will be rejected and you will not legally able to acquire any compensation in the future.

It is possible that the statute of limitations can be suspended temporarily. This may happen in scenarios where the victim cannot feasibly sue, such as when he is left incapacitated or in a coma. The statute would begin when he returns to health. It is important that you speak with a skilled hit and run lawyer in Los Angeles to determine the correct amount of time left on your case.

Choosing Us

The Downtown LA Law Group is one of the most successful law firms in Los Angeles. We have years of experience and our reviews speak for themselves. Our lawyers are known for being aggressive and for never giving up, even going to court for you if we must. We dedicate ourselves to every client, and to date, we have recovered more than $100,000,000 in compensation for victims.

We can help you understand the legal process and how to sue Geico for a hit and run accident if you call us today. All legal consultations are totally free and you can ask us any questions you want. If you hire us, we’ll also ensure you pay no fees at all – our zero fee guarantee states we don’t get paid unless and until we win, with the payment coming from Geico, and if we lose, we take nothing. No matter what, the Downtown LA Law Group is here for you. We will sue Geico for your medical expenses if you were in a hit and run accident.