What You Should Do After a Hit and Run Accident
Usually, when you’re involved in an accident with another car, you’ll work with the other driver to exchange insurance information and then make a claim with your insurance company. If it's a hit-and-run accident the driver who caused the accident leaves the scene before you can identify them. This changes things, and knowing what to do if this happens to you, can make the process less stressful to navigate. Obviously you won't have the other driver’s insurance, so how do you take care of your car or injuries to you or your passengers?
Most Common Types of Hit and Run Car Accidents
1. You notice your car door has been dented by another car when you’re parked in a parking lot.
2. The driver of a passing car hits into your car while it's parked on the street.
3. Your car is hit by another car in traffic, and the driver who's car hit yours, speeds off.
Assess the Situation
The first thing to do after a hit-and-run is to stop the car in a safe location and assess the damage. If any passengers are in your vehicle, make sure they are ok and address any injuries before proceeding. The most important thing is ensuring you and your passengers are safe and unharmed. If you're able to move your car, find a safe place to pull over.
Keep in mind sometimes shock can cause you to overlook an injury. To avoid overlooking an injury, perform a head-to-toe assessment, checking for any wounds or inhibited movement. For any serious injuries, it’s best to call 911 before attempting to move an injured person so the dispatcher can guide you on what to do until the police and ambulance arrive.
Call Emergency Services and Gather Information
If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to call 911 to report a hit and run.
Don’t wait hours to report the collision to law enforcement. Even if no one is injured, you still need to file a police report for law and insurance purposes. Ask the officer for a copy of the report, as your insurance may request documentation.
Write down anything you remember about the car and driver who hit you, so you can give the description to the police. Take pictures of the damage to your car. Next see if anyone in the area witnessed the accident and can give a statement to the police. Note their name and contact information so you can provide it to your insurance company when making a claim in case they have any additional questions. You can also ask any local businesses whether they have security camera footage that shows the incident, this can be used by the police when filing a report and by your insurance company when processing your claim.
File a Claim
Once you’ve filed a police report, it’s time to contact your insurance company. You’ll probably have to give a statement and provide supporting documentation such as photos of the damage, a copy of the police report, and the contact information of any witnesses. Depending on your provider, you may be able to file over the phone, online, or using a mobile app.
Call a car accident attorney and set up a free consultation. A car accident lawyer will make sure you get everything you need to repair or replace your car, compensation for any work missed because of the accident, and make sure your medical bills and make sure any chiropractor or physical therapy treatment you need is covered. Hiring an attorney will make sure you are taken care of, and will allow you to focus on your recovery, instead of stressing out about how you're going to pay your car damage and medical bills. If you've been hurt in a hit and run accident, call the Fielding Law Group today, and setup a free case evaluation.