What to Do After a Hit and Run Car Accident: A Guide
Did you know that 65% of fatal hit and runs involve pedestrians or cyclists? It’s an unfortunate fact that, in general, hit and run crimes are increasing.
If you’re ever a victim of such an incident, then it’s important to know how to handle the situation. Are you wondering what you would need to do?
Keep reading to learn all about what to do after a hit and run car accident.
Table of Contents
Call for Help
When handling a hit and run car accident, the first thing you must do is call 911 and inform them of the accident. They should be informed about any information on a car injury accident.
Once you’ve finished the phone call, you should make a note on your phone, writing out everything you remember about the car and what happened. It’s important to try and recall the make and model of the car, the license plate, and the color. Even if you only remember half of the license plate, that still could be helpful.
Collect Evidence
As part of managing a hit and run car accident, you should see if there were any witnesses nearby. If so, you should ask them for their contact information. That way, the insurance company and the police will be able to talk with them if necessary.
Another type of evidence you’ll need is photos of the vehicular damage. Use your smartphone or a camera to take pictures of all the damage and the nearby crime scene. These will go a long way to proving what happened.
File a Police Report
Does insurance cover a hit and run car accident? The simple answer is yes but you need to make sure that you report the accident to the police within 24 hours. First of all, a hit and run is classified as a crime but if for some reason you choose not to report it, then your insurance claim could be deemed an “at fault” loss.
Filing a police report is an important part of the process for making sure that you get the insurance coverage you’ve been paying for. After you file the report, you might be instructed to go to a collision reporting center.
In the event that the police officer tells you that the damage is not significant enough to file a report, then you should get their information. This would include the officer’s name, badge number, and telephone number. This information will be more evidence that will help the success of your insurance claim.
Afterward, it will be time to call your insurance provider to file an official claim.
Now You Know What to Do After a Hit and Run Car Accident
Now that you’ve learned all about what to do after a hit and run car accident, you can make sure that the situation is as under control as possible.
Do you want even more reliable advice related to health, personal finance, real estate, and so much more? All you have to do is bookmark our site.