Nothing can prepare you for a car crash. It’s jarring and frightening and can leave you with bills you weren’t prepared to pay and insurance claims that are a pain to sift through.
When it’s a hit and run, that makes matters worse. A hit and run is defined as when a driver strikes a pedestrian or another automobile and leaves the scene without identifying themselves. This can be overwhelming even in the best of circumstances, but it’s important to remember that there are things you can do to take charge of the situation.
Handling the Basics
When you’re the victim of a hit and run, it’s easy to give in to panicked thoughts, but you need to do your best to remain level headed. Take stock of what’s happened and review what you know.
How did the accident occur? Were you able to spot the other driver’s license plate, car make, and model? Did you see which direction they went?
Asking yourself these questions will play a pivotal role in your case. Take photos if you have your smartphone on hand. Document the damage to your vehicle and try to memorize the state of the other driver’s car.
If you’re able, find nearby eyewitnesses and ask them to remain at the scene of the accident to give a statement to the proper authorities. They can play an incredibly important role in both your insurance claim and your police report.
Speaking of, make sure that you’ve contacted the authorities while at the scene of the accident. While it can be tempting to follow the other driver, doing so can be looked upon unfavorably by the authorities.
As you’re waiting for officers to arrive, it’s important you contact your insurance agency, as well. Give them as much information as you can and let them know that you intend to file a police report.
What’s in Your Toolbox?
There are numerous resources that are available to help make your insurance claim and any potential police investigation go along more smoothly. If you were able to acquire the other driver’s license plates, the authorities will likely be able to provide you the name of the offender.
There are also several sites that offer license plate searches but you should use these with caution; only police are authorized to pull someone’s personal information through these searches.
Once you have some more information, you can turn to a service like golookup to learn more about the other driver, including their previous arrests and criminal records. Knowing these can make an insurance claim move along much more quickly in your favor.
Considering Legal Action?
Especially in cases of injury or a totaled vehicle, legal action may be necessary. Doing a thorough search on legal representation options will help you find the best fit for your specific case. Consider a lawyer’s specialty, as well. If you’re dealing with a case of motorcycle accident negligence, it’s probably not in your best interest to select a lawyer that handles commercial automobile collisions.
Remember, your lawyer is on your side and is there to see the best potential outcome for you. Make sure you’ve done your research. Come prepared knowing what you hope to gain from legal recourse. Understand that even with a lawyer’s help, things may not go your way.
No Accident is Easy
Being a victim of a hit and run can truly turn your life upside down. However, it doesn’t have to stop your life from going on. Simple things like details, times, and making sure you know what resources are available in the event of a hit and run will increase the likelihood of a favorable outcome.
It’s never easy being in a collision, but it also doesn’t have to be so hard.
