What To Do After a Hit and Run Accident
Being a victim of a hit and run accident is extremely frightening and stressful. First thing first is try to stay calm and keep your wits about you. Look at your surroundings and see if you are able to get a glimpse of the person who hit you. Here are a few things to never do at the scene of a hit and run accident. Don’t follow the fleeing driver unless you are sure you can get a complete license plate number. Leaving the scene of an accident could put you in a compromising position seeing as the police could question who’s really at fault.
Gather information about the accident
Gather as much information from the scene as you can. The biggest piece of information is a license plate number. If you can’t make out the whole number, remember as much as you can. Write down a description of the driver, if possible. Describe the car – make, model, color, if the vehicle is older or newer, etc. It is critical to write down the time and location of the accident as well as the damage to your vehicle and what direction the vehicle who hit you was going.
See if there are witnesses
If you were hit in a populated area and there are witnesses that saw your accident, get names, contact information, and write down details of what they saw. If they are still there when the police arrive, have them give their statement as well.
Call the police
Call the police and report the accident, if they arrive at the scene, give your statement and account of what happened. This report will be essential to your claim. If they are not needed at the scene of the accident, you should drive to the nearest police station and get an accident form to fill out.
Take photos
Take as many photos’s of your vehicle’s damage as possible. If the other driver’s vehicle left some of their paint on your car, point that out. Take photos from every angle and direction on each spot of damage. Documenting everything you see will help bolster your claim.
Hire a personal injury attorney
When you don’t have much information on the car that hit you, filing a claim can be challenging. Hiring a personal injury attorney to help you navigate the claims process to make sure your settlement is appropriate, especially if you suffered injuries as a result of your accident.
If you were injured in a hit and run acciden
t, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your case. Attorney Charles V. Contrada will explain your legal options, guide you through the process.
To speak to attorney Charles V. Contrada about a car accident in Ohio or Michigan, call 419.841.4400. Charles has helped thousands of individuals with car accident claims and will explain the legal options that are available to you. Call Contrada & Associates for comprehensive legal guidance that will help you to receive the most favorable outcome.