What to Do If You're the Victim of a Hit and Run Accident

If you're the victim of a hit-and-run accident, it can be very stressful. Here are the steps you should take if you find yourself in this situation.

Being involved in a car accident can be extremely shocking and stressful, no matter the context. These types of accidents are more common than we like to think, with the likelihood being that each one of us will be in at least one accident during our lifetimes. 

However, things can get even more stressful if the other driver involved in your accident decides to leave the scene. Without the other driver being present, you might have trouble resolving the case in the way you otherwise would.



What do you need to know if you find yourself a victim of a hit and run accident? What steps do you need to take? Read on and we'll walk you through the basics.

Immediately After a Hit and Run

You're driving down the road just like any other day when all of a sudden - another car slams into you. This is bad enough, but then the car pulls away and speeds off, leaving you the victim of a hit-and-run collision.

What does your immediate reaction need to be? 

First and foremost, you'll want to look out for the immediate safety and security of those in the vehicle. Check on yourself and others. Is anyone seriously injured? If there's any sign of injury, you'll want to call 911 right away and ensure that emergency services are on their way to the scene. 

As soon as you can, move out of harm's way. If it's possible to pull the car over to the side of the road, do so. If you can't, safely exit the vehicle and move to safety.

Once you are in a safe location, try to gather as much information as possible. While your memory is still sharp, try to collect everything you can remember about the accident: how it occurred, what the other vehicle or driver looked like, any portion of their license plate, and so on.

If you can, try to recollect which direction the driver headed when they drove off.

Take pictures of the scene of the accident and the damage is done to your vehicle and yourself. Video can be helpful as well. 

If there were any witnesses to the accident, collect all the information they have on the accident. This will all be essential later on. You'll want to call the police, notify them of the accident, and have all this information ready for them to take down. 

Contacting Your Insurance Provider

After a police report has been filed, you'll want to report the accident to your primary insurance provider. It's best to do this as soon as possible, leaving no time for the details of the accident to get away from you.

While you legally have up to thirty days to file a claim, doing so as quickly as possible will help your case run smoother.

Notify your insurance provider of the accident and the damage done, and let them know that the other driver fled the scene. 

Will your insurance cover the damage associated with this accident? It depends on your coverage. Many insurance providers do provide coverage for hit-and-run accidents. 

If you live in a no-fault state, your insurance provider covers all damages to your vehicle in the case of an accident, no matter what the situation is.

If you don't live in a no-fault state, you'll need to read into the specifics of your coverage to see what is and isn't possible. In some cases, you'll need to have another additional uninsured motorist insurance policy in order to get coverage after a hit-and-run accident. 

It goes without saying, determining your eligibility for coverage should be a high priority. The costs associated with an accident can be quite high, and you don't want to get stuck paying for all the damage and repair yourself.

Working With a Car Accident Attorney

Another step you might want to take following the notification of your insurance provider? You might want to consider enlisting the help of an experienced traffic lawyer.

An experienced car attorney will be able to help you determine the best way to try and secure the compensation that you need after an accident. When you're hit with the unexpected shock of a car accident, the last thing you'll want to do is to navigate the complexities of foreign-to-you law all on your own.

An accident attorney can help handle your case and move things forward while you focus on recovering and re-stabalizing your life. 

A car accident attorney will have handled cases just like yours dozens of times in the past and should be aware of all the games that insurance providers like to play. They will ensure that you are protected under the law and that you get the type of compensation that you have a right to.

Their legal expertise means they'll be able to guide and advise you better than just about anyone else could. While not every case will require the help of an attorney, bringing one on for your hit-and-run case can help to make the situation much easier to manage. 

Dealing With a Hit and Run Accident

An accident of any sort can be a huge interrupting to one's life, but nothing can be more shocking than a hit and run accident.

What do you need to do if you're the victim of this kind of accident? The above information can help you understand the steps that you need to take.

Need immediate help with your case? reach out to Pablo G. Martinez Law Firm and Give us a call anytime for assistance.