When people think of a car accident, they typically imagine a pair of cars colliding with each other. While this is the case for most crashes that result in a personal injury or in property damage, there are also other ways for car accidents to impact or inconvenience your life.
Last week’s crash at the St. Joseph City Hall is just one example of how this can happen.
Truck Crashes Through City Hall Fence
Just after noon last Wednesday, January 18, 2017, a white GMC Sierra pickup truck crashed into the concrete wall on the northwest side of St. Joseph City Hall. The crash, which was caught on video surveillance, caused significant damage to the decorative wall. Numerous concrete pillars were knocked down and the entablature these pillars held up was damaged, as well.
The pickup truck sped away after the collision. Police are asking for help identifying the vehicle, which should have damage on the hood and front passenger side of the truck, as well as a missing headlight.
Hit-and-Run Accidents
Of course, this is another example of a hit-and-run accident. Missouri Statute 577.060.1 makes it illegal to leave the scene of a crash if there were any injuries or any property damage in the accident. It’s important to note that hit-and-run accidents can happen even if no one was hurt – they can happen if there was an injury or if there was property damage.
Hit-and-Run Accidents That Only Involve Property Damage
These kinds of accidents happen often. You could be inside your home, minding your own business, when you hear screeching tires outside and a crash. When you look out, there’s a vehicle speeding away and your mailbox is in ruins. In more extreme cases, the collision could involve your car, parked in either the street or in your driveway, or even your home.
In all of these cases, you could be left with thousands of dollars of property damage, with the person responsible for it speeding away.
Instead of getting disheartened, by calling the police immediately you can initiate an investigation. By noting what was damaged and any other signs, the police can determine what type of vehicle they’re looking for, what damage should be present on it, and use that information to track down the driver who was responsible. Once the culprit has been found, they can be made to compensate you for the losses that they’ve caused.
St. Joseph Car Accident Attorneys at the Smith Law Office
Car accidents come in all shapes and sizes. Some of them lead to significant property damage, even if you were not present at the crash. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be compensated for your losses, though. By notifying police of a hit-and-run accident that damaged your property and then getting in touch with the car accident attorneys at the Smith Law Office, you can ensure you get the compensation you deserve. Contact the Smith Law Office online or call them at (816) 875-9373 to get the legal help you need.