What to do After a Hit and Run Accident?

Being involved in a car is already a stressful and dangerous situation. However, it becomes more difficult and complex to deal with when the driver of the other party escapes, leaving you with the feeling of injustice and uncertainty. A hit and run accident need immediate action to ensure your safety, collect evidence and increase the chance of identifying the culprit.

Prioritizing Your Safety:

Immediate actions to prioritize your safety is the first step after an accident.

Move to safe location: If your call is still drivable, then move it to the side of the road to save yourself from traffic. If not, then cautiously get out of your car and move to the safe side of the road. Wait for help in a safe location.
Check injuries: Check yourself and others for injuries, if anyone is injured then immediately call the helplines numbers and don’t try to move anyone who is injured, as they can be severely injured, and this can worsen their condition.
Secure Scene: If possible then secure the scene to let other people know about the accident. Turn on your headlights and use any object to block the area where your car is stuck.

Gather Vital Information:

Try to collect any piece of information you get about the culprit.

Stay Calm: The first thing to do after an accident is to stay calm and gather your thoughts to take the next vital steps. Take deep breaths to calm yourself and then try to find crucial information.
Vehicle Description: Note down as much as possible information about the vehicle that hit you.

Color: Note down the color of the vehicle in detail.
License Plate: If you can remember any part of the license plate note it down accurately, even a partial number is helpful.
Model: If possible then try to note the model of the car.
Unique Features: Many people like to give uniqueness to their vehicle to make it stand out, if you remember any in that vehicle then note it down too, as it is the most vital information.

Driver’s Description: If by any chance you happen to see driver then try to remember any detail about their appearance such as:

Age: Getting their exact age is difficult by merely looking but try to guess their age range if possible.
Gender: Identify the driver’s gender.
Clothing and hairstyle: Describe what the driver was wearing at the time of accident, what kind of hair the culprit had.

Witness Testimonies: If anyone else happens to witness the accident then ask them to stay until the police arrive and give them their witness testimonies. Get their contact information for future use.

Informing Authorities:

Report the Accident: Report the accident immediately, call the police at the scene. Provide them with your location and condition, hand them over all the information you’ve gathered about the vehicle and culprit.
Be Cooperative: Be prepared to answer all the questions the police are going to ask you and answer them calmly. Provide any additional information you may remember later.

Protecting Yourself:

File a Police Report: Even when police arrive at the scene, file an official police report. This police report will be important in any insurance claims and legal claims you make later.
Document the Scene: If your health allows you to, then try to document the scene for future evidence. Take videos and photographs of the car, your injuries and anything else present there at that moment.
Contact your Insurance Company: Contact your insurance company as soon as possible, provide them with their all the information and cooperate with the possible investigation.
Seek Legal Advice: Considering talking with a lawyer to help you get the justice you need. If your hit and run accident resulted in severe damage, then it is better to talk to a specialized hit and run accident lawyer as they’ll know better how to navigate this field.

Navigating any legal maze is complex and dangerous, but by following these steps you can navigate it better and your chances of getting the justice you need increases. Seeking professional legal advice is crucial in any legal matter. Remember, your safety and well-being come first.

If you need to talk about your issue and need free consultation, then call now at (718) 414-6642.