Hit and Run Car Accident? What You Need to Do Right Now

More than one hit-and-run accident happens every minute in the United States. Being the victim of a hit-and-run crash is extremely stressful because you often don’t know who is responsible for your damages. Even if you have insurance, it can be tricky to get them to cover the accident when there’s no other driver. Fortunately, with the right car accident legal advice, you can get the compensation you deserve. Keep reading to learn more about what steps to take following a hit-and-run car accident to protect your rights. 

Safety First

The first thing you should do following a hit-and-run accident is to make sure everyone at the scene is safe.

If you, your passengers, or anyone else is injured, you should call 911 immediately. First responders can provide medical assistance to anyone in need.

It can be difficult to tell if you are injured at the accident scene. This is because car accidents are so stressful that you can experience shock. It’s always best to get checked out at the scene by medical professionals. They can help you determine whether you need immediate medical assistance.

You should be sure to move your vehicle and yourself from the roadway and the path of traffic. You don’t want a second accident to occur. 

Call 911

You always want to call 911 if you are the victim of a hit and run.

If the other driver leaves the scene of an accident, they are committing a crime. If you were injured in the accident, the other driver can be charged with a felony for leaving the scene.

Calling the police allows you to tell your side of the story and creates a report that can be a critical piece of evidence when filing a claim with your insurance company.

The police can also gain access to types of evidence such as surveillance cameras that may help you locate the other driver. It’s important to call the police right away so they can respond to the scene rather than reporting the accident later. 

Collect Information

After you have made sure everyone is safe and called the police, you should gather as much information as possible about what happened.

If you have a pen and paper, write down everything you remember about the crash. If you don’t have these items, you can use your phone to take notes.

Make note of everything you can remember about the other vehicle and the driver. Include details about the make and model of the vehicle, the color of the vehicle, who was driving, which direction they were traveling, and anything you can remember about the license plate.

Don’t try to commit everything to memory. Write these things down so you don’t forget and have stronger evidence for what happened.

It can also be helpful to use your phone to take photos of your vehicle and the accident scene. 

Look for Witnesses

You should also look around for witnesses. Ask them if they saw what happened and if they would be willing to give a statement to the police.

If they agree, get their contact information and advise them that you have called the police so they can stick around to give their statement. 

Report the Accident

The next thing you should do is report the accident to your insurance company.

This is especially important in hit-and-run accidents because you don’t know anything about the other driver. This makes it impossible to file a claim with their insurance company. Depending on what type of insurance you have, you may be able to file a claim with your own insurance company.

You may have coverage under your collision and medical payments or under uninsured motorist coverage.

One of the biggest reasons people leave the scene of an accident after causing a collision is because they have little or no insurance. If you don’t know who they are and they don’t have any assets, it can be practically impossible to sue them.

Fortunately, if you have insurance, there’s a good chance you will have at least some coverage under your own policy. It’s important to report the accident to your insurance company as soon as possible. 

Contact an Attorney

If you were in an accident involving a hit and run driver, you need to contact a California personal injury attorney.

This is especially true if you were injured in the accident. Without the ability to file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance, paying for medical expenses can be overwhelming. Contacting an attorney for legal advice after a car accident allows you to learn about all of your options.

Your attorney will use their resources to try to get to the bottom of your case and make sure you are fairly compensated. They will even represent you so you don’t have to deal with your own insurance company.

When you file a claim under uninsured motorist coverage, your insurance company takes on the role of a third party. It can be challenging to get a fair settlement because they still want to protect their interests and pay out as little as possible.

Each state has its own laws regarding what you can recover in a hit-and-run accident. The best thing you can do for yourself is to find car accident legal advice from a qualified and experienced attorney who knows the law in California. 

Do You Need Help With Car Accident Legal Advice?

If you were involved in a hit-and-run accident, you need car accident legal advice.

You can rest assured that your rights will be protected when you are represented by one of our hit-and-run accident specialists. We have dedicated our careers to helping innocent victims like you get the compensation you deserve.

Click here to contact us today for your free consultation.