Trial-tested hit-and-run accident lawyers committed to thorough preparation in every case.
If you were struck by a driver who fled the scene in Marietta, you may be facing medical bills, a damaged vehicle, and the difficult reality that the person responsible cannot be located. Our Marietta, GA hit-and-run accident lawyer at Johnson & Alday, LLC can pursue payment through uninsured motorist coverage and every other source available to you. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer Marietta, GA
Georgia law requires every driver involved in a collision to stop, share identifying information, and render aid if someone has been hurt. When a driver leaves before doing those things, the wreck becomes a hit-and-run, regardless of who actually caused it. The hours that follow matter more than in an ordinary crash, since surveillance footage is frequently overwritten and eyewitness accounts fade quickly.
These cases turn on two questions. Can the fleeing driver be identified? And if not, what coverage applies? Most victims don’t realize that their own auto policy may cover injuries caused by an unknown driver. We review every policy that might respond, investigate what happened, and identify each available source of recovery for the person who was hit.
Types of Hit-and-Run Cases We Handle in Marietta
Hit-and-run crashes take many forms. Highway sideswipes. Parking lot fender benders. Fatal collisions on Cobb Parkway. The investigation looks different in each one, but the goal is the same: identify who’s responsible and hold them accountable.
- Rear-end collisions. A driver who hits you from behind and then flees the scene still owes you compensation. Traffic camera footage, witness accounts, and vehicle damage patterns can identify the responsible party.
- Head-on collisions. Head-on crashes produce some of the worst injuries on the road. Quick investigation preserves skid marks, debris, and physical evidence before it disappears.
- T-bone accidents. Intersection crashes often involve drivers who run a light or sign and then leave. We reconstruct the sequence of events to establish how the collision happened.
- Side-impact accidents. When a car strikes the side of your vehicle and flees, the point of contact and paint transfer can help trace the driver. We pursue that evidence aggressively.
- Multi-vehicle pileups. Pileup crashes get complicated fast, especially when one driver leaves the scene. We identify each party’s responsibility and hold them accountable for their share.
- Pedestrian accidents. A pedestrian hit by a fleeing driver faces serious harm and a difficult investigation. We work to identify the driver and pursue every available form of recovery for the person who was hurt.
- Motorcycle accidents. Riders are exposed and often badly hurt when a driver flees. We understand the bias riders face from insurers and counter it with evidence.
- Truck accidents. A commercial truck that leaves the scene creates added layers of investigation. We pursue the driver, the trucking company, and any other party that shares fault.
- Wrongful death. When a hit-and-run takes a life, surviving family members deserve answers and accountability. We handle these claims with care, attention, and resolve.
Why Choose Johnson & Alday, LLC for Hit-and-Run Accidents in Marietta, GA?
Choosing the right firm matters when the at-fault driver has disappeared and the insurer is looking for reasons to pay less. Two things set our firm apart in cases like this.
Decades of Plaintiff-Side Experience
Our attorneys have handled motor vehicle and injury claims for 40 years. Robert “Bobby” Johnson spent the early part of his career at a defense firm representing employers and insurers across Georgia, and he has tried numerous cases to verdict. Bryan Janflone began on the defense side as well, handling liability and workers’ compensation matters for insurance carriers before turning his practice to representing injured people. That combined background tells us how the other side builds, defends, and values cases. We put that knowledge to work for our clients. When you need a car accident lawyer in Marietta, GA, that kind of perspective is uncommon on the plaintiff side.
Proven Results and Recognition
The firm has recovered millions of dollars for injured clients across Cobb County. Bobby holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been named a Super Lawyer every year since 2023. Bryan earned his J.D. cum laude from Georgia State University College of Law, where he served on Law Review and Moot Court, and has been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star since 2023. Both attorneys are members of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association. We prepare every case as though it will be tried, and we take cases to trial when the insurer refuses to be fair.
What Is Important to Understand About a Hit-and-Run Case?
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Hit-and-Run Cases
A hit-and-run victim can pursue the same categories of compensation as any other injured driver. Damages typically fall into a few groups.
- Emergency room visits, surgery, rehab, and any future medical care your injuries demand.
- Wages lost while you recovered, along with any long-term hit to your earning potential.
- Pain and suffering from the crash itself, including the emotional weight of being struck by someone who refused to take responsibility.
- Repair or replacement of your vehicle, and the cost of any personal items damaged or destroyed.
The driver who fled remains legally responsible for the harm caused, but legal responsibility means little if that person cannot be located. Uninsured motorist coverage on your own auto policy was built for exactly this situation. It can pay for injuries caused by an unidentified driver as if the carrier were standing in for the person who got away. Coverage held by family members in the same household can sometimes stack with your own, which often unlocks more compensation than a person realizes is available.
What Are Important Aspects of a Hit-and-Run Case?
Hit-and-run claims rise or fall on evidence and timing. The driver is gone, which means the case lives or dies on what gets gathered in the first few days after the crash.
- Prompt reporting to law enforcement, which creates an official record of the crash.
- Physical evidence from the scene, such as debris, paint transfer, and surveillance footage.
- Witness statements, which often supply a partial plate number or a vehicle description.
- Notice to your own insurer, since uninsured motorist claims carry their own deadlines and conditions.
What Is the Hit-and-Run Case Timeline?
Hit-and-run claims progress through several stages from the crash to a final resolution. The stages overlap and the pace varies, but the basic sequence holds across most cases.
- Investigation of the crash scene and the search for the responsible driver should begin as soon as possible.
- Ongoing medical care until your treatment reaches a plateau.
- A demand to the uninsured motorist carrier, supported by full documentation of fault and losses.
- Negotiation, which resolves most claims without going to court.
- Filing suit and proceeding to trial when the carrier will not pay a fair amount.
What Should You Bring to Your Hit-and-Run Consultation?
Coming in with documents speeds things along. None of these are required for the meeting, but each one helps us assess your claim faster.
- The police or incident report, plus any witness contact information you collected at the scene.
- Photographs of the damage, debris, and any view of the other vehicle, including partial plate numbers.
- Your auto insurance policy, especially the uninsured motorist coverage section.
- Medical records, bills, and discharge instructions from any provider you have seen.
There is no charge for the meeting. The earlier you sit down with an attorney, the more evidence remains available to investigate, and the better positioned the claim becomes from the start.
What Are Important Georgia Legal Resources for Hit-and-Run Cases?
Georgia law shapes how every hit-and-run claim moves through the system. The resources below can help you confirm the rules that apply to your situation.
- The official Georgia Code contains the statutes that govern personal injury actions, including the rules for statute of limitations and negligence.
- Georgia generally sets a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury actions under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, measured from the date of the crash.
- Georgia follows a modified comparative negligence rule under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33, which reduces or bars recovery based on a plaintiff’s share of fault.
- The Georgia Office of Highway Safety publishes traffic safety data and crash statistics across the state.
- National figures on fatal hit-and-run crashes are tracked by NHTSA crash data, which shows how the rate of these crashes has changed over time.
- Broader motor vehicle injury statistics are available through CDC injury data.
Reach Out to Johnson & Alday, LLC to Schedule a Consultation
A hit-and-run does not have to end your chance at recovery. Our attorneys can investigate the crash, identify the coverage that applies, and pursue the compensation you are owed. We handle these cases on a contingency fee, so there are no attorney fees unless we recover for you. The firm answers calls 24 hours a day, and a lawyer is available to speak with you about your claim. Contact us today to get started.