Added on September 16, 2019  The News Wheel

How to Handle a Hit and Run Accident

Accidents can happen to anyone at any time but when they happen to you they can be traumatic and overwhelming. Even more upsetting is when the culprit that caused your accident flees the scene. Hit and run accidents are responsible for over 65 percent of all pedestrian fatalities. But you don’t have to be out walking or riding a bike to be a victim of a hit and run.

You could be in your car, or your vehicle could be hit while it’s parked and it will still be considered a hit and run incident. When a vehicle leaves the scene it can be even more difficult to determine culpability for damages or injury.

The expert attorneys at the personal injury law firm SGP Law recommend that you follow these steps if you are ever in a hit and run accident. Taking these proactive steps can help you get the closure and the compensation that you deserve if you have been injured.

Call 911

In most states, it is the law to report an accident to the police. Even if you weren’t injured in the incident it is important to call 911 right away. If you were involved in the accident you should have an initial check-up from emergency personnel.

You may not feel any injuries directly following the accident, but that can be as a result of the adrenaline that flows through your body after experiencing trauma. Many injuries are slow to appear, so get checked out and get a record of the medical findings just in case you need it for your insurance claim later on.

Make sure that the police fill out an official report and that you get a copy for your records. Give as much detail as you can to help fill in the report.

Gather evidence

When a vehicle leaves the scene of an accident it can remove most of the important evidence for liability. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t evidence to be collected. Talk to any eyewitnesses and ask them to make a formal statement and share their contact information. Find out if there was distracted driving involved or if anyone saw the license plate.

If the accident took place in an urban area you can ask nearby businesses if they have any security cameras that may have captured footage of the fleeing vehicle. You may be able to get a license plate number or more identifying details about the vehicle.

Call your insurance company

Most policies include collision coverage, so you will need to notify your insurance as soon as possible following any kind of accident. In most hit and run cases you won’t be able to rely on the other vehicle’s insurance coverage to pay for your repairs.

Your level of comprehensive coverage will determine how much damage is going to be covered and how much you may have to pay out of your pocket. Provide your insurance with every detail that you can recall as well as a copy of the accident report from the police.

Call an attorney

If you have been injured in a hit and run accident it’s vital to contact a professional attorney quickly. Accident injury cases can be complex and you can benefit from getting advice from the experts. Protect yourself from future expenses and get the compensation that you deserve by consulting an attorney about filing a possible lawsuit.

Your life can change in an instant when you are involved in an accident.  At the least, you’re losing the vehicle, which causes you daily inconvenience. At worst, you could end up with injuries that affect the rest of your life. Following these tips on how to handle a hit and run accident can help save you a lot of stress in the aftermath. Call the authorities, get checked out by a doctor, gather information and consult an attorney about your rights. You never know when an accident will happen but you will know how to handle the situation if it happens to you.

This is a collaborative article.