Four Essential Steps to do Immediately After a Hit and Run Accident

No car accident is ever a good thing, but hit-and-run accidents can be especially complicated to handle. Without the ability to collect the other driver’s information, you end up left feeling helpless and unsure what to do.

This article will cover what the law considers a hit and run accident and provide four essential tips to follow immediately after the incident to ensure your safety and cover your losses to the fullest extent possible. Plus, we’ll answer some of the most common questions about responding to a hit and run.

What is a Hit and Run?

Render reasonable assistance to anyone who has suffered bodily injury and call for an ambulance for anyone who requests it or obviously needs medical help.
Give their name, address, registration number of their vehicle, and driver’s license (if requested) to anyone involved in the accident or any police officer investigating the scene.
If unable to provide the required information to the people listed above (for example, if no other person involved is in a condition to receive the information, and no officer is present), the driver must immediately report the accident to the nearest law enforcement entity.

When a person involved in an auto accident fails to remain on the scene until these obligations have been met, it is commonly called a “hit-and-run.” Usually, a person flees after an accident because they want to avoid an encounter with law enforcement. They might have warrants, be driving on a suspended or revoked license, be intoxicated, be uninsured, or they might have just panicked and left the scene in a hurry.

Whatever the case, as the other driver involved in the accident, you’ll need to take these immediate steps to protect yourself, your passengers, and your property. Here are four steps to follow immediately after a hit-and-run.

What to Do After a Hit and Run

It’s essential that you take these four immediate actions following your hit and run accident. Following these steps will ensure that you and your passengers are safe and maximize your chances of recovering any financial losses from medical services or damage to your vehicle.

Step 1 – Get Everybody to Safety

The first and most important thing to do after a hit and run is to get you and everyone with you to safety. If able, immediately move your vehicle out of traffic. After that, check yourself and your passengers for any injuries and provide first aid if necessary. Finally, call and request an ambulance immediately if anybody is seriously injured.

Remember to check yourself thoroughly, as the shock of the accident may make it difficult to realize how injured you really are.

Step 2 – Call the Police

There are two reasons you need to call the police immediately after a hit and run. First, it dramatically increases the chance that the fleeing driver will be found and be held accountable. Second, the police will provide you with a detailed report of the accident, which will help you with your insurance claim.

Step 3 – Write Down What You Remember About the Accident

While you’re waiting for the police to arrive, you can start taking notes to help the police with their investigation. Try to include the color, make, and model of the other vehicle if you can remember them. Of course, if you can remember all or part of the license plate number, that will go a long way toward finding the other driver.

Step 4 – Call Your Insurance Company

If anybody required any medical assistance, or if there was damage to your vehicle, you will need to make an insurance claim. Your insurance representative will help you understand your coverage and go over what is or isn’t covered resulting from this accident. Your insurance company will also be able to arrange for a tow if your vehicle is inoperable and may even be able to arrange a ride home for you and your passengers.