What to Do After a Hit and Run Accident

You’ve been in a car accident. There’s damage to your vehicle, and you may have some injuries, but the other car has fled the scene. What should you do after a hit and run accident like this? Your first step is to ensure you are safe and that you call the police to offer help. Then, you’ll have several steps to help you with getting repairs taken care of later.

What Is a Hit and Run?

To learn what to do after a hit and run accident, first consider what this is. It occurs when a driver involved in a moving violation leaves the scene of the incident. If they fail to stop, you may not be able to obtain their contact information. Try to capture their license plate number, but even if this doesn’t happen, you should call the police immediately. An instances in which fleeing of the scene occurs, especially when there are victims with injuries or damage to property, is an illegal act.

What to Do When You Are the Victim of a Hit and Run?

As the victim of a hit and run accident, you will need to contact police or your insurance company to file a claim. Filing a police report happens at the scene of the incident. The police arrive, gather information, document what happened and then work to find the other driver. This information, though, is valuable to your auto insurance provider. The details of what happened can help to speed up the claims process.

Will Your Car Insurance Pay for Your Property Damage?

The type and amount of car insurance you have plays a role here. If you have strictly liability insurance, it may not provide you with any coverage. If you have uninsured motorist or underinsured motorist insurance, you may have some support. You can call your agent to get insurance information. They can verify the type of coverage you have and then help you to file a claim. With uninsured motorist coverage, you may think the process is rather simple. However, auto insurance companies often limit what you can claim and how much they will pay you.

Why You Should Hire an Accident Attorney After a Hit and Run

When you are involved in a collision, the damage you suffer may be extensive. This may include loss of your vehicle, significant financial loss due to the damage, lost time at work, and medical bills. Your auto insurance company is likely to try to make you settle the claim for less than what is owed to you. That can mean that you are not getting all of the coverage owed to you – and that’s not fair.
When you work with an auto accident attorney, you can get help with this process. Your agent can help you with a variety of concerns and claims options including:

• Get help for non-obvious medical concerns such as whiplash.
• Ensure you get full compensation owed to you for the property damage to your vehicle.
• File a claim for items within your vehicle lost as a result of the incident.
• Get help securing compensation for time you missed at work due to medical needs, the accident itself, or any legal proceeding.
• Providing support to help you with any legal matter related to the incident such as reckless driving claims.

With the help of an attorney, you gain insight into what you can claim. You also have a professional working to support your best interests.

Hire a Car Accident Attorney in Arizona

When you learn what to do after a hit and run accident, you’ll find help available through a car accident attorney. Even if you find your insurance company is working with you or that the other party seems to help, protect your rights by hiring an attorney to represent you throughout the process. Contact Brad Johnson Injury Law to discuss your legal options through a free consultation.