After a hit and run accident, injured victims often feel angry and confused, unsure how to go about seeking fair compensation for damages and injuries incurred.
When a careless driver is responsible for injuring another person, and then commits the indecent act of leaving the scene without properly attending to the injured, they often leave their victims with shattered lives.
However, there are things you can do to create a smoother experience, should you find yourself in this unfortunate situation.
Read on to learn five important steps to take after a hit and run collision, whether you are a victim or a witness.
After a Hit and Run Collision
- Identify Additional Witnesses – Talk to others who witnessed the accident and exchange information with them. The more details you can get, the better the odds are of the police finding the hit and run motorist. Eye witness accounts can also help when the time comes for your insurance company to reach a resolution concerning your claim.
- Take Photographs – In the aftermath of a hit and run, your memory of the accident will not be as clear as you might think. Getting pictures of your vehicle and the accident scene will help clarify any details where witnesses’ accounts conflict, or any facts that you don’t remember vividly. And again, pictures may be useful to your insurance company.
- Notify the Police – Following a hit and run, you may be so angry that you are tempted to chase down the other driver. However, the smart and safe thing to do is call the police and file an accident report. Also, give the police the contact information for any additional witnesses. They may be able to use this information to apprehend the hit and run driver.
- Never Leave the Scene – Leaving the scene of a hit and run accident for drivers can result in license revocation, fines, and, in some cases, jail time. Passengers and witnesses, however, are free to leave the scene at any time without fear of legal repercussions. Therefore, identifying as many witnesses as quickly as possible could serve to help complete your accident report and find the at-fault driver.
- Act Quickly – If you are quick enough to see the license plate number of the hit and run driver, or notice what type of vehicle, or in which direction they left, that information could go a long way toward helping police apprehend the motorist. Using the voice recorder on your phone is a handy way to quickly make these important notes.
Being the victim of, or even a witness to, a hit and run accident can be a shocking and traumatic experience.
Knowing ahead of time what steps to follow will help you manage the situation as effectively as possible.
