What to Do if You’re the Victim of a Hit and Run

Hit and run accidents are often particularly traumatic and frustrating for victims because of the shock and lack of resolution associated with these craven crimes. According to statistics issued by the federal government, about 11% of all collisions are hit and run accidents, which translates into almost 700,000 hit and runs per year in the U.S. What’s more, the rate of hit and run car accidents has increased by 15% since 1998, and the number of hit and run deaths has also jumped by 20% since 2000. Aside from tracking down the perpetrator, one of the biggest issues facing the victims of hit and runs is getting reimbursed for the damages and/or injuries the hit and run driver caused. We’ll answer this question in what follows.

Hit and Run Defined

The term hit and run applies when a party does not stop after an accident. Whenever a party is involved in an accident, that person is legally obligated to stop and exchange relevant information with any other people involved. If no witnesses are present at the time of an accident, the driver is required to leave a note detailing all pertinent information. In some states, the failure to stop after an accident is a felony, depending on the dollar amount of damage and/or injuries caused.

When You’re a Victim

If you are the victim of a hit and run, your actions in the moments following the accident are critical to the identification of the perpetrator and recovery of any financial losses you incur. Here is a step-by-step guide on what you should do if you’re a victim:

1. Collect as much information about the perpetrator as possible. If you are in your vehicle when the hit and run driver strikes you, write down all of the information you can about the driver and the offending vehicle. If possible, make note of the license plate, describe the driver, and write down the make, model, and color of the car.
2. Call the police. Call the police as soon after the accident as possible. In order to bring the perpetrator to justice, you will need to enlist the services of the authorities. Likewise, your insurer will likely require that you file a police report about the incident before they will pay out any claims.
3. Attend to any injuries. It’s always a good idea to go to the hospital after an accident even if you don’t think you were injured. Some injuries can take weeks to manifest symptoms, so you’re better safe than sorry. If you have medical payments coverage, your auto insurer will reimburse you for your medical expenses. Your injuries might also be covered by uninsured motorist coverage, if you have it. If you lack these coverages, you will need to request reimbursement from your health insurance company.
4. Submit a claim to your insurer. In most states, uninsured motorist coverage only pays for medical expenses, not property damage. In that case, you would need to submit a claim under your collision coverage. Your insurer will want the police report of the incident in order to investigate the claim. Typically, your insurance company will then try to subrogate the guilty driver in order to recover your deductible and their payout.

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