Who is Liable When a Car Hits You on Private Property?

When an accident occurs, especially when the other driver flees the scene, you may find yourself in the midst of an issue: Who is liable? And how do you prove this liability if the other driver fled the scene and you cannot identify them? Luckily for you, you have options, even when the accident occurred on private property. You may find some police officers are difficult to move on these cases, because they do not typically have jurisdiction when an accident has occurred on private property. However, they are still permitted to document the scene and your injuries.

The problem comes from insurance companies not knowing what they should do in light of these accidents. In many cases, they may be reluctant to pay a claim without a police report, which is why you should always contact the police about the incident. You should also let the owner of the property know about the accident so they can have it on file.

Determining Liability

So who is responsible for your accident in these cases? The truth is, many parties – from you, to the other party, to the owner of the property. For example, if the property was a private business and there were blind spots that led to an accident, the owner of the property could be held liable. If the property owner, however, still feels as if they hold little liability, they could be helpful in issuing security footage or more that could lead to liability on part of the other driver.

After you receive information by the police in ways of a police report, you should seek medical attention for your injuries. If you fail to seek medical attention, you could be harming your own case and limiting your recovery later on. Lastly, you should be in contact with your personal injury attorney on the next steps. We have experience in many types of cases and can help you today. Call us at Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi for more!