Don’t Be a Hit and Run Victim: These Are Your Options if the Driver Tries to Flee the Scene
You’re on the way to start your day, and suddenly your car gets hit. After you get over the initial impact, you realize the driver who hit you is trying to leave the accident scene. An accident is awful, and when the other driver leaves, it feels worse. Don’t be a hit-and-run victim. Discover your options if the other driver tries to flee.
Check Your Auto Insurance Policy
The right auto insurance helps victims get compensation sooner. It also helps if the hit-and-run driver is found and has no liability insurance. Check to see if you have uninsured/underinsured coverage on your vehicle. Trying to track down a driver who left the scene is a challenge and could take months. In the meantime, work with your insurance agent and legal professionals at Papa Injury Law to find out where your coverage exists.
Gather Information
Gathering information right after the accident is crucial to ensure accuracy. Try to record the make, model, year, and color of the car that hit yours, as well as the location and pertinent details. Ask people at the scene of the accident what they saw, and get the witness’ personal information to contact them later, if necessary, to substantiate your claim. Hit and run drivers leave victims in a difficult position because those victims have to prove who hit them. Take photos of the vehicle and the scene of the accident to show what happened.
Get a Police Report
If the other driver leaves, you still need to call the police to report the accident. Assist officers in every way possible to help them find the hit-and-run driver. Working with the police increases the chance of finding the driver who left the scene of the accident. Investigations can take weeks or months as victims struggle to cover costs and figure out what steps to take next. Inquire about your insurance coverage to determine what might be covered in the meantime. Leaving the scene of the accident is a crime, and the police must be informed.
Also, read Fatal Fall Accident in a Hospital: What’s Next?
Assert Your Rights
A car accident is stressful, especially when you don’t know who hit your vehicle. Finding the other driver is a process, and victims deserve compensation. Schedule a consultation with an attorney who works with other personal injury clients and has the experience to handle the case. An attorney handles insurance, investigations, and paperwork associated with the case to ensure everything is done in a timely fashion. Trying to handle it on your own can lead to disappointing results. Hiring an attorney is a way to protect yourself and ensure somebody is working on your side.
Fleeing the scene of a car accident is a crime, so don’t let the other driver get away with it at your expense. Gathering details at the scene of the accident is important to substantiate your case and report the situation to the police. No matter what happened at the accident scene, you have rights when someone hits your car and leaves.
Schedule a consultation with an experienced attorney today to learn more about your options after a hit-and-run accident. Standing up for yourself is the first step toward getting compensation, and working with an attorney ensures you get the best possible results.
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