When a driver hits you and speeds away, the shock often competes with a very practical worry: who is going to pay for the medical bills, missed work, and car repairs if you do not even know who they are. Many people assume that if police cannot immediately identify the driver, there is nothing else they can do, so they delay medical care or give up on making a claim. In Colorado, that assumption can cost you important legal rights.
At Boesen Law, our Lakewood car accident lawyers handle cases where drivers flee the scene in parking lots, at intersections, and on high speed roads throughout Jefferson County. We step in to help clients document what happened, work with law enforcement where appropriate, and use all available coverages, including uninsured motorist insurance, to pursue compensation even when the at fault driver remains unknown.
Reach out to our law firm for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation today. Call our personal injury lawyers in the state of Colorado at (303) 999-9999 or contact us online.
How Boesen Law Helps After a Hit and Run in Lakewood
Hit and run cases require you to navigate three separate legal systems at once: traffic law that governs what drivers owe each other at the scene, insurance law that determines which coverages apply when the at fault party cannot be identified, and sometimes governmental immunity rules if a public entity shares responsibility. Each system has its own deadlines, documentation requirements, and procedural traps that can limit or eliminate your recovery if you miss a step. Our team exists to prevent that outcome by coordinating the investigation, managing the insurance claim, and preserving every avenue for compensation while you focus on medical treatment and returning to work.
When you retain Boesen Law for a hit and run in Lakewood, we:
- Review the police report, 911 records, and any available traffic or security camera footage to clarify how the collision occurred.
- Move quickly to secure scene photographs, witness statements, and vehicle inspection records before critical details are lost.
- Analyze your auto policy for uninsured motorist coverage, medical payments coverage, collision coverage, and other benefits that may apply when the at fault driver cannot be identified.
- Coordinate with your medical providers and, when needed, independent experts to document your injuries, long term prognosis, and the financial cost of treatment and time away from work.
- Present your case to insurers in a way that reflects the reality of the crash, drawing on the firm’s proven motor vehicle case results to advocate for full and fair compensation.
From the start, we focus on preserving your options, avoiding coverage pitfalls, and making sure that one driver’s decision to run does not erase your chance to recover.
Colorado Hit and Run Laws in Plain Language
Colorado does not treat hit and run as a minor paperwork issue. State law creates specific duties after a crash and makes it a crime to ignore them, whether the collision involves a pedestrian, a cyclist, another vehicle, or only property damage.
Key parts of that framework include:
- Duty to stop after an injury crash
Under C.R.S. § 42-4-1601, a driver involved in an accident that causes injury, serious bodily injury, or death must immediately stop at or return to the scene and remain there until they have fulfilled their other obligations, such as providing information and aid. Failing to do so can lead to misdemeanor or felony charges, depending on the harm involved. - Duty to stop after a property damage crash
C.R.S. § 42-4-1602 requires drivers involved in crashes that cause only damage to a vehicle that is driven or attended by a person to stop nearby, return if necessary, and remain until they have given the information required by law. - Duty to provide information and render aid
C.R.S. § 42-4-1603 spells out what drivers must do at the scene, including sharing names, addresses, and vehicle registration information, showing a driver’s license on request, and providing reasonable assistance to anyone who is injured.
These statutes matter for two reasons. They determine how prosecutors classify a hit and run for criminal purposes, and they also help establish that leaving the scene is itself negligent conduct in the civil case. When we evaluate your claim, we look closely at how these duties apply to the facts of your crash.
Common Hit and Run Scenarios in Lakewood
Lakewood’s mix of neighborhood streets, shopping centers, and major corridors creates many opportunities for drivers to cause harm and then leave before anyone can catch a license plate. We routinely see hit and run cases involving:
- Rear end collisions where the striking driver backs up and escapes through a side street.
- Parking lot or garage impacts that push a parked car into another vehicle or pillar, with the driver disappearing before the owner returns.
- Side impact crashes at intersections when a driver runs a red light, spins another vehicle into a curb, and then flees.
- Pedestrian and cyclist crashes near schools, bus stops, or trail crossings where the driver panics and drives away instead of staying to help.
Even when there are no apparent injuries at the scene, these collisions can lead to neck and back problems, concussions, and other conditions that only emerge in the following hours and days. Our lawyers treat so called minor cases seriously, because we have seen too many situations where early assumptions about “just a bump” turned out to be wrong.
Injuries and Damages After a Hit and Run Crash
From a medical standpoint, there is nothing minor about a collision that leaves you with lasting pain or physical limitations, regardless of whether the other driver stayed or ran. In hit and run cases, we often see:
- Whiplash and other soft tissue injuries to the neck and back.
- Concussions and more serious traumatic brain injuries, especially in side impact or high speed crashes.
- Fractures in the wrists, arms, ribs, and legs, sometimes requiring surgery and rehabilitation.
- Shoulder and knee injuries from bracing against the impact or striking vehicle interiors.
- Emotional and psychological injuries, including anxiety about driving or walking near traffic.
Under Colorado law, you may be able to recover:
- Medical expenses, including emergency care, imaging, surgery, physical therapy, and follow up treatment.
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity if you cannot return to your prior job, schedule, or field.
- Costs of assistive devices or home modifications if your injuries affect mobility.
- Pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life, which are generally subject to non-economic damage caps.
- Compensation for physical impairment or disfigurement, which Colorado treats separately from general non-economic damages.
Our job is to connect the medical evidence to these categories of damages so that insurers and, if necessary, a jury see the full impact of the crash, not just the initial repair estimate.
Attorney Jon C. Boesen notes that hit-and-run injury claims often turn on documentation, not initial appearances: “In these cases, the strongest files connect the medical timeline to the crash evidence early—because once insurers decide an injury is ‘minor,’ it can take months of treatment and expert support to correct that narrative.”
Talk to a Lakewood Hit and Run Accident Lawyer Today – No Fees Unless We Win
Boesen Law helps injured people make use of those tools. Our attorneys understand how Colorado’s hit and run statutes, comparative fault rules, damage caps, and insurance regulations fit together, and we use that knowledge to build claims that account for both immediate losses and long term consequences. We focus on evidence, deadlines, and strategy so that you can focus on medical care and day to day recovery.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a hit and run crash in Lakewood, you can contact Boesen Law for a free consultation. We will listen to what happened, review your options under your own policy and Colorado law, and outline practical next steps for moving your case forward.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lakewood Hit and Run Cases
What should I do immediately after a hit and run accident in Lakewood?
Stop your vehicle in a safe location if possible, call 911 to report the accident and request medical assistance if needed, and try to remember as many details about the fleeing vehicle as you can—color, make, model, license plate, direction of travel, or any distinguishing features. Take photos of the scene, your vehicle damage, and any visible injuries. Gather contact information from witnesses who may have seen the collision or the other vehicle. Do not leave the scene until police arrive and complete their report. Seek medical attention even if you feel fine, because some injuries do not appear until hours or days later. Finally, notify your insurance company promptly and consider speaking with an attorney before giving a recorded statement.
Will my insurance rates go up if I file a hit and run claim?
In most cases, filing a claim under your uninsured motorist coverage or medical payments coverage should not cause your rates to increase, because you were not at fault and the collision was caused by an unidentified driver. Colorado law and many insurance policies treat these claims differently from at fault accidents. However, filing a collision claim may have different implications depending on your policy terms. Before you file, review your policy language or ask your attorney to help you understand which coverages apply and whether any of them could affect your premium. Insurance companies vary in how they handle these situations, and it is always better to know the consequences before you proceed.
What if the police never find the driver who hit me?
You can still recover compensation through your own auto insurance policy if you carry uninsured motorist coverage. Colorado law allows you to pursue a claim against your UM carrier when the at fault driver cannot be identified, as long as you meet the policy requirements and deadlines. In some cases, additional investigation – such as reviewing traffic camera footage, canvassing nearby businesses for security video, or interviewing witnesses – can uncover new leads even after the police investigation has stalled.
What if the hit and run driver is eventually identified?
If the at fault driver is later found, you may be able to pursue a claim directly against that driver’s insurance policy or, if they have no insurance, against the driver personally. You may also be able to recover additional damages that were not fully covered by your uninsured motorist policy. In some cases, your UM carrier may have a right of subrogation, meaning they can seek reimbursement from the at fault driver for amounts they paid to you. Our firm will coordinate with your insurer and, if appropriate, pursue the newly identified driver to maximize your total recovery while protecting any subrogation interests that affect your claim.
Reach out to our law firm for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation today. Call our personal injury lawyers in the state of Colorado at (303) 999-9999 or contact us online.
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