After any automobile accident, there are particular steps you need to take in order to ensure your safety, and the safety of others on the road. If you are involved in a hit and run accident, the procedure you should follow will be different than if the other driver stays to exchange information. Accidents can be stressful and scary. In most cases, if a driver flees after being involved in a car accident, it is most likely because they do not want to be held responsible for the consequences of the accident. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports 11 out of 100 automobile accidents are hit and run situations, and of those accidents, 43% result in a fatality. If you are injured in a hit and run accident, stay calm and follow these appropriate steps following the accident.
Get Help
Your first step following a hit and run accident is to call for help. Do not chase after the other driver or leave the scene of the accident. Call 911 immediately whether you have been injured or not.
Remember Important Information
If you have been injured in a hit and run accident, identifying the other driver may be difficult, but it is important to take in as much information about the accident as possible. Try to remember the other driver’s car, license plate number, time and location of the accident, and which direction the driver drove off in. The more information you can gather immediately after the accident the better. Be sure to write this down as quickly as possible.
Identify Witnesses
Ask any witnesses to the accident if they will exchange contact information and tell their story to officials. They may have information you are not able to remember or can provide additional information about the accident.
Call Your Insurance Company
File a report with your insurance company immediately after the accident.
Schedule an Appointment with Your Doctor
If you have been involved in a serious hit and run accident, it is important to get checked out by your doctor after the accident. Even if you do not notice immediate pain after the accident, injuries can become apparent months after the accident occurs. Every car accident is different, but there are a few injuries that seem to happen as a result of vehicle accidents more frequently than others.
Call an Attorney
If the police have found the driver responsible for the accident and you have been injured during the crash, it is important to speak with an attorney to discuss your options. Even your own insurance company, and certainly those of others involved, are not necessarily serving your best interests, but rather their own.
If you have been involved in a hit and run accident and would like a free consultation with an experienced lawyer, call us toll-free at 800.676.5295.
