No matter how tough your job is, it’s safe to say your day wasn’t as bad as the spa employee in the below story. Unless, that is, you’ve ever been hit by a car while running after a customer who didn’t pay.

 

Here’s what happened. In late February, a customer at the Spa Castle in Queens received some services, then left the building without paying. A 21-year old employee ran after the woman in order to stop her so she could pay, but was too late. The customer not only got in her car, but the car proceeded to drive away – and hit the employee!

 

While news sources could not confirm whether or not the woman was driving the car, they could not confirm that anyone else was in the car with her.

 

Even though the suspect got away, this story most likely has another chapter or two. Photos of the suspect have been released. In addition to the criminal charges that await the woman once she is caught and apprehended, the employee who was hit may be able to sue for medical damages. In the end, the costs of being sued and charged with crimes will certainly cost more than any treatment at Spa Castle.

 

What to Do If You Have Been Hit By a Car

 

Hopefully, you will never have to run after a thieving customer only to be hit by their vehicle. However, pedestrian accidents do happen every day. Statistics from 2014 suggest that one person is injured in a pedestrian accident every eight minutes.

 

Eight minutes isn’t a long time, and it will likely take you a lot longer to recover from the injuries and other financial losses that come from the accident. The bottom line is that if you have been hit, there’s no time to spare – take legal action now.

 

So, what do you do?

Document Everything

After you are hit, you should treat the accident like any other car accident. Either you or a witness should record the name, insurance provider, license number, and contact information of the driver that hit you. Gather witness testimony. Record your initial injuries and visits to medical facilities. Record the time that it takes you to recover from the accident, including lost days at work. You can read more tips in a past blog post.

 

The documentation of your injuries and bills can help to determine how much you should ask for in damages. If the driver has a no-fault insurance policy, their insurance provider will help to cover your injuries regardless of the circumstances. No-fault insurance makes the process easy on both sides. Whether the driver or the pedestrian “caused” the accident, the damages will be covered – at least to an extent. New York’s no-fault insurance will cover up to $50,000 in medical expenses and up to $2,000 per month in lost wages.

 

Of course, like the employee at Spa Castle, not all victims will be able to get insurance information from the driver who hit them. In a hit-and-run situation, victims can apply for benefits under the Motor Vehicle Idemnification Act. You can also apply for benefits under this act if your claim is rejected by the driver’s insurance policy.

 

If the claims are rejected, or you do not cover the full amount of compensation that you need, you may have to take legal action by filing a personal injury lawsuit alleging that the driver caused the accident.

 

For more information about taking legal action against a driver who hit you, talk to a Brooklyn personal injury lawyer.