Evansville Hit and Run Accident Lawyer

Our Evansville car accident lawyers know how to recover the proof, activate coverage, and push insurers to take responsibility when others won’t. Contact us today to learn how we can help you.

How Our Evansville Hit-and-Run Lawyers Help You

At CBM, personal injury law isn’t just one of our practice areas. It’s all we do. When a driver flees the scene, we move quickly to protect your rights and build the strongest possible case. Here’s how we help:

• Preserve critical evidence before it disappears. We collect footage from traffic and business cameras, download event data from your vehicle, and contact witnesses while details are fresh.
• Identify every available insurance path. We review your auto policy for UM/UIM and MedPay coverage that can pay your claim even when the at-fault driver is never found.
• Coordinate directly with law enforcement. Our attorneys work closely with the Evansville Police Department (EPD), submitting evidence requests to their Hit & Run Unit and tracking active investigations.
• File preservation notices with insurers. We prevent data loss by notifying all relevant carriers early. When needed, we bring in reconstruction experts to analyze speed, impact angles, and visibility at the time of the crash.
• Pursue corporate and government liability. If the fleeing vehicle was owned by an employer, delivery company, or government entity, we assess liability under Indiana’s course and scope of employment rules and track deadlines required.

We don’t wait for answers. We build them. Our team combines local insight with statewide reach to recover the proof, activate coverage, and push insurers to take responsibility when others won’t. If the other driver fled the scene, contact us for a free consultation to discuss your recovery options.

Our Accident Attorneys

Tina M. Bell

Partner

Meet Lee C. Christie

Partner

Laura J. Conyers, RN

Associate

Meet Kevin P. Farrell

Of Counsel

Meet Kathy A. Lee

Retired

Meet Kyle L. Christie

Partner

Katherine M. Marshall

Partner

Christopher D. Simpkins

Associate

Speak with a personal injury lawyer today. Call: 317-488-5500

What to Do in the First 48 Hours After a Hit-and-Run in Evansville

The actions you take immediately after a hit-and-run can determine whether you recover full compensation or lose critical evidence forever. Here’s what to do in the first two days:

1. Report the crash to the police immediately. Contact the Evansville Police Department as soon as it’s safe to do so. Your official report creates the foundation for insurance claims and any future legal action. You can later retrieve your crash report through EPD’s online portal, which includes the case number, time, location, and the responding officer’s information.
2. Document the scene thoroughly. If you’re physically able, take photos of your vehicle damage, visible injuries, debris, skid marks, and nearby traffic signs or lights. Note the names and addresses of businesses or homes with security cameras — many erase footage within 72 hours.
3. Seek medical attention right away. Even if you feel fine, some injuries don’t show symptoms for hours or days. A medical record linking your injuries to the crash strengthens your claim and protects your health.
4. Notify your insurance company. Indiana law requires prompt reporting of accidents. Let your insurer know about the hit-and-run, but avoid giving a recorded statement until you’ve consulted an attorney.
5. Avoid speaking with adjusters without legal guidance. Insurers often ask questions designed to minimize your claim. If an adjuster contacts you, keep your answers brief and factual. For more on handling these calls, we invite you to talk with a hit and run lawyer to learn how to protect your rights when an insurance adjuster calls.
6. Contact an attorney before evidence disappears. The sooner we begin investigating, the more evidence we can preserve. Our team works directly with EPD’s Hit & Run Unit and local businesses to secure footage and witness statements before they’re lost.

The faster you act, the stronger your claim becomes. Get in touch today for a free consultation to discuss your next steps.

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Who May Be Liable in an Evansville Hit-and-Run

Determining fault in a hit-and-run often extends beyond the missing driver. At Christie Bell & Marshall, we look at every responsible party to ensure you recover what the law allows.

• The fleeing driver, when later identified, remains the primary liable party for both bodily injury and property damage. We coordinate with EPD to match partial plates, vehicle descriptions, and paint transfer.
• The vehicle owner or employer, if the driver was operating within the scope of work, can be held responsible under Indiana’s vicarious liability rules.
• Your own insurance provider, which may owe compensation under uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) or MedPay coverage, often becomes the central defendant if the driver is never located.
• Third parties, such as repair shops or commercial fleet operators, may share fault if maintenance or mechanical failure contributed to the crash.

Our role is to trace the accountability chain wherever it leads: to the driver, the company that put them behind the wheel, or the policy that should have paid. That level of persistence turns dead-end cases into recoverable claims.

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Damages You Can Claim in a Hit and Run Case in Evansville

A successful hit-and-run claim restores more than repair costs—it accounts for the disruption to your health, work, and stability. Your lawyer will carefully review your case to pursue every form of compensation available, ensuring it covers both current expenses and future costs. This includes:

Medical and Ongoing Care

Emergency treatment, imaging, surgery, hospitalization, therapy, and any projected medical expenses for long-term rehabilitation.

Income Loss and Future Earning Capacity

Documented wage loss, missed contract work, and the economic value of career limitations. We build these numbers with vocational and economic experts who quantify loss precisely, not by insurer averages.

Out-of-Pocket and Daily Living Costs

Transportation, medication, household replacement services, and any necessary home modifications after serious injury.

Pain, Suffering, and Quality of Life

Physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life — factors that insurers often undervalue until we present full documentation.

When evidence supports it, we also preserve punitive-damage arguments, especially when the hit-and-run driver acted with reckless disregard, such as fleeing under intoxication or leaving injured victims at the scene.

Talk to Christie Bell & Marshall About Your Evansville Hit-and-Run Case

When drivers disappear, evidence doesn’t wait. Our firm acts quickly to preserve proof, navigate coverage, and position your claim for maximum recovery. We invite you to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your case, review potential coverage, and explore how our results-driven approach can help you move forward.

FAQs About Evansville Hit-and-Run Claims

What should I do first after a hit-and-run in Evansville?

If you were hit in Evansville and the driver fled, call 911 immediately and get medical attention before doing anything else. Ask the responding officer for the case number so your lawyer can later request the full report from the Evansville Police Department’s accident portal.

Can I still recover compensation if the Evansville driver is never found?

Yes. Even if the at-fault driver remains unidentified, your uninsured motorist (UM) coverage can often compensate you for medical bills, wage loss, and other damages. Our firm helps clients verify coverage, file notices within policy deadlines, and gather supporting documentation like photos, medical records, and repair invoices to meet the proof requirements insurers demand.

Does the Evansville Police Department need a full license plate to investigate?

Not necessarily. Partial plate digits, color, make, model, or even unique details like bumper stickers or commercial logos can help EPD’s Hit & Run Unit track down a suspect vehicle. You can also submit a supplemental report if new evidence arises, something many drivers don’t realize is permitted under the department’s Hit & Run Unit guidelines.

Will filing a UM/UIM claim raise my premiums?

In most situations, a UM or UIM claim doesn’t count as an “at-fault” accident, so it should not affect your rates the same way a collision claim might. However, some carriers interpret policy language differently. During your free consultation, we review your declarations page and explain how Indiana insurers typically handle UM/UIM filings to ensure you’re not penalized for protecting your rights.

How long do I have to file a hit-and-run claim in Evansville?

You generally have two years from the crash date to file a personal injury claim. But in hit-and-run cases, early action matters more than the deadline itself. Footage is overwritten, witnesses forget, and insurer notice periods can be as short as 30 days. Acting quickly helps us preserve your right to recover from every possible coverage source.

What if I already spoke to an insurance adjuster?

That’s common, but you should avoid further recorded statements until you’ve spoken with counsel. Adjusters may ask misleading questions to reduce liability or suggest your injuries aren’t related to the crash. We step in to manage communications and ensure all evidence, from your medical timeline to the EDR data and witness accounts, supports your version of events.