If someone strikes your motor vehicle with theirs, you expect that they’ll stop and exchange insurance information at the very least. However, some people don’t do this. Instead, they flee the scene, even though it’s illegal, as they don’t want to get in trouble with the authorities or deal with the financial impact.
Here are some steps to take as the victim in a hit-and-run accident:
- Call 911: Don’t attempt to chase after the person, but instead call 911 to request help. If you’re injured, the dispatcher can also send an ambulance to the scene.
- Take notes: The person may not have stuck around, but you can still take notes to help police catch them. For example, write down the make, model and color of the vehicle. And if you can catch the license plate number, that’ll really help.
- Talk to witnesses: If anyone saw the accident or stopped to help, ask them for their contact information. This information may come in handy when dealing with your insurance company, especially if they have reason to question if you were at fault.
- Review your insurance policy: When doing so, pay close attention to your uninsured motorist coverage, as this will kick in if the other person isn’t found.
You hope to make a full recovery after a hit-and-run accident, but even if you do there could be other challenges standing in your way. This often happens if your insurance company isn’t cooperating, which makes it difficult to obtain the compensation you deserve
Even though the hit-and-run nature of the accident complicates things, you still have legal rights.