Protecting You During Trying Times

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

On Behalf of | Aug 1, 2019 | Hit-And-Run Accidents

You are likely confused about what to do in the face of a hit and run accident. Whether you are experiencing the aftermath now or looking to be prepared when the time comes, we’ll cover what you should do.

A person’s head spins around in circles, considering legal action, personal health, and financial compensation. It’s good to be prepared, or at least have a plan of what you are going to do have you find yourself in a hit and run situation. Don’t be caught without any idea of what to do next.

Here’s what to do if you’re a hit and run victim.

What to Do as a Hit and Run Victim

The first thing you should do after being hit is assess the situation. Make sure that your medical condition is well enough, and decide if you should go to the hospital. If you’re in medical danger, call an ambulance immediately or flag down a car in traffic who has a working cell phone.

Also take a mental note of any details you can remember about the car that hit you. Any license plate numbers, colors, or models of the vehicle will be useful. You will also want to get the personal information of anyone who witnessed the event.

Next you’ll want to call the police, they will be your first attack in finding the person who hit you. Finally, contact your insurance company as soon as you have contacted the police.

Getting Compensated for Medical Expenses

The way to go about this depends entirely on whether or not the police identify the other driver. If so, it will be much easier for you to get compensation for being a hit and run victim.

If the driver is identified, they will be responsible for your medical expenses. The difficult part is figuring out what to do if the driver is never found. You will need to speak with your insurance company to see if they will compensate you.

In many cases your insurance company will pay what the other driver would have, had they stayed at the seen of the crash. They will then press charges for the fees if the driver is ever identified.

If your insurance has personal injury coverage, you will be entirely covered by your insurance company for the medical charges.

Punitive Payment

You may also be able to be compensated for any emotional trauma you experience. If you feel as though compensation for your medical expenses is not enough, you will want to bring the case to court and press charges.

This, of course, must be carried out only if the other driver is identified. Consider the possibility that you have had extra trauma that you’re faced to deal with on your own. Of course, if you choose to take this route it would be wise to consult with a professional lawyer.

It may also be wise to consult a lawyer right off the bat. The other driver may argue that they did nothing wrong, or that they didn’t know that had made contact with you or your vehicle. In these cases, it is best to have legal protection from someone who knows what they are doing in the courtroom.

Contact a Professional

Get professional help if you are a hit and run victim. There is a great deal of financial and emotional compensation on the line and you don’t want to make any mistakes.

If you’re looking for legal help in a hit and run case, contact us and we would be happy to help you.