Need some help and advice

[KCM]

Last evening around 8:00 p.m. traveling on Rt 4 South, my husband, myself and my two kids were involved in a pretty serious accident. We were hit by someone who ran a red light, T-boned us, which caused us to go roll several times before landing on our side. THANK GOD we were not seriously injured. The driver of the other vehicle fled the scene. I am looking for advice as to legal representation in this area. Being relatively new..I am not familiar with who would be a good lawyer and who I should stay away from. Our jeep is totaled. My daughter and husband were extremely lucky since they were hit on that side. TIA for any help.

 

[RoseRed]

Thanks goodness you are all okay!

He t-boned you and was able to flee the scene? What was he driving, a tank? Where did this happen at and do you have any witnesses?

Whenever I have ever needed legal advice, I have always gone to David Densford in Leonardtown.

 

[happyappygirl]

THANK GAWD you guys are alright!!
I assume there was a full police report done, and they will put out a call for any witnesses to the accident. Hopefully someone will stand up and report what they saw. It seems to me, that you probably won't be able to do anything "legally" except file a claim with your insurance for actual damages to your vehicle, and any injuries since you don't have the other party. If and when they find him/her they're in BIG trouble. Leaving the scene is a serious offense. The liklihood that the other party has insurance is pretty slim I would guess. He fled BECAUSE he knew he was in trouble....and has prolly been in trouble before. Honest people aren't involved in an accident, and flee the scene especially a serious one like this sounds like it was.
And be alert, injuries like whiplash can take a little while to actually show up...watch the kids closely for any signs of limping, crankiness, bruising etc. Post Traumatic Stress can set in later in kids too. You all must feel like you've been run over by a mack truck! Thank goodness you were all buckled in. It certainly could have been worse.

 

[FancyBelle]

Last evening around 8:00 p.m. traveling on Rt 4 South, my husband, myself and my two kids were involved in a pretty serious accident. We were hit by someone who ran a red light, T-boned us, which caused us to go roll several times before landing on our side.

We're all glad you are all OK. You are real lucky. You probably won't need a lawyer, the insurance company usually takes care of that stuff and the pollice will try to investigate it. Your ins co or you may want to put an ad in local paper asking for any witnesses. You don't have to let the other party know you weren't seriously injured. Let him stew a while, he may still come forward if he has a consious. I'm surprised he isn't hurt. Best of luck to you. It's still such a pain to have to go thru all this BS though.

 

[KCM]

Actually he fled on foot. Haven't heard whether he was caught or what is going on. We are waiting for the police to get back in touch with us. What a mess.

 

[FancyBelle]

Good, if they have the car, that's a good lead. Don't worry, they'll get him. If you don't hear from the police within a week, you call them. Did they give you a case #? Sometimes you have to stay on these guys before they do anything. Some cops just don't care and the ones that do have a lot on their plate. Keep after them.

 

[cattitude]

First off, glad you are okay. You won't need a lawyer really unless you suffered injuries...of course you can sue anybody at any time. Probably a stolen car? If it was the driver's car, the police have all the pertinent information and will find the guy. Your insurance company and the police department will handle everything.

Again, glad you and your family are okay.

I'm assuming this happened in Calvert? Where? Lots of people out and about at that time of the evening. Maybe somebody saw something :shrug:

 

[KCM]

First off, glad you are okay. You won't need a lawyer really unless you suffered injuries...of course you can sue anybody at any time. Probably a stolen car? If it was the driver's car, the police have all the pertinent information and will find the guy. Your insurance company and the police department will handle everything.

Again, glad you and your family are okay.

I'm assuming this happened in Calvert? Where? Lots of people out and about at that time of the evening. Maybe somebody saw something :shrug:

It was the intersection of RT 4 south and around Ball Road (I think that is the road). It is right past the sign for saying St. Leonard Town Center. We were headed south bound, he came from the left and went through the red light.

We were just updated by the state police - they have yet to find this guy.

 

[Kizzy]

Amazing everyone ended up walking away. It appears that nearly all the windows shattered on impact.

 

[KCM]

The driver's side and the driver's side passenger windows were shattered completely. As we were sliding on our top and then on our side the debris from the road, rocks, sparks and grass were coming through the window. My husband's glasses are scratched really bad from all the rocks. Thank god it was his glasses and not his eyes.

 

[cattitude]

It was the intersection of RT 4 south and around Ball Road (I think that is the road). It is right past the sign for saying St. Leonard Town Center. We were headed south bound, he came from the left and went through the red light.

We were just updated by the state police - they have yet to find this guy.

Calvert Beach Road is the road on the northbound side, Ball Road is on the southbound side. That's a bad intersection, limited visibility. My sister lives off of Calvert Beach, as does my son. That's a busy area, I can't believe somebody didn't see something. Pester the police (good luck). It's hard to get them to do much of anything if there were no injuries -- did you at least get transported to the hospital?

 

[KCM]

Calvert Beach Road is the road on the northbound side, Ball Road is on the southbound side. That's a bad intersection, limited visibility. My sister lives off of Calvert Beach, as does my son. That's a busy area, I can't believe somebody didn't see something. Pester the police (good luck). It's hard to get them to do much of anything if there were no injuries -- did you at least get transported to the hospital?

All four of us were transported by ambulance. There were plenty of eyewitnesses that saw him take off running on foot but they were trying to help us at the same time. Ironically, the FD were just finishing up a meeting and were there in a matter of seconds.

BTW Catt - thanks

 

[cattitude]

Curious...do you know the make and model of the car that hit you?

 

[Kizzy]

Looks like a Saturn. :shrug:

 

[KCM]

Curious...do you know the make and model of the car that hit you?

I think it was a saturn. It is on the web site that Kizzy posted - the car that is beside the picture of our jeep. All I remember is seeing a gold or silver car coming at us on the driver's side and yelling to my husband to look out we are going to get hit. I felt the impact and us jerk sideways. The next thing I know we are rolling over and over with sparks flying everywhere. I remember hearing my husband scream, my son screaming non-stop and my daughter scream once. She stopped screaming and for a moment both my husband and I thought she was dead. She was in the driver's side passenger seat.

 

[cattitude]

How terrifying.

I'll ask around...never know. I know loads of people in that area as do my children and the rest of my family.

 

[RoseRed]

How terrifying.

 

[RoseRed]

How terrifying.

Pinch-poke...

 

[KCM]

Thank you everyone for your concern and advice. My family and I appreciate it.

 

[BadGirl]

This must have been positively frightening for you, KCM. I'm glad to know that you and your family is safe.

Be diligent in watching for delayed signs of trauma. Like other posters have warned, many injuries seem to creep up days and weeks after the initial accident. And try to take lots of photos today and in the next few days - of everyone in the family as well as both of the autos. These photos will be useful if used in future litigation.

Good luck to all of you.