How to Deal With a Hit and Run Car Accident

You might think you are dreaming at first. A vehicle comes and hits your car … and rather than stopping and seeing if you’re all right and then exchanging insurance information, they just … keep going. 

This is a real-life nightmare, though. You’re not going to wake up in your bed. Instead, you’re going to be left wondering what to do next.

If this does happen, Progressive will give you the best car insurance options in Arizona. There are some steps to take after that. Read on to learn more.

Stay Calm

This might sound like a tall order. Your adrenaline is pumping. You were just HIT, after all. The urge to do something irrational can be strong here. But you also need to ensure that you are OK. 

That adrenaline spike might mask an injury. Take a quick inventory of yourself. Is anything hurt?

Don’t Chase After The Vehicle

Your first thought might be to immediately chase after this person who fled after hitting you. It would be like a movie, you catching them and dealing out justice.

No. Don’t do that!

It doesn’t work out like that in real life. There are too many ways that this could end badly, including your winding up being in another accident and you could be the one at fault. So rein in that urge and do the next thing.

Write Down Any Information

Chances are good that you have a smartphone, right? Take it out and write things in the notes app. 

What was the situation? Weather conditions? Road conditions? What did the other vehicle look like? Did you see the other driver? Do you remember what they look like? Were there any identifying features? Did you happen to catch any of their license plates? Write it down now.

Call The Police

This might seem like the FIRST thing you should do. But you want to make sure that you have a cogent thing to tell them. By taking a few seconds to write the information, you’ll be able to have a clearer picture and keep from possibly forgetting key things while waiting for the police to arrive.

Locate Witnesses

Where did the accident take place? Were there a lot of people? Find anyone who saw it. Perhaps someone on the other side of the road saw something and stopped to make sure you were OK. 

Talk to them. See what they know. They could also verify your information to the police. The more concrete information you have, the better chance you have of helping the police.

Take Pictures

You want to have photographic evidence. Take your smartphone and walk around, taking pictures from all angles. You’re doing this for both insurance purposes – the companies can start skeptical about the validity of your claim – and for members of the law to see. 

Were there skid marks around the scene? Take pictures of those. Every little thing can help bolster your case.

By now the police should have arrived on the scene. Take every piece of evidence that you have collected and show it to the police. Be as detailed as you possibly can be. That way, they will have solid leads to go on when it comes to finding the person that did that to you.

Hit-and-runs are serious crimes and the penalty can be harsh. There is an exception to hit and runs in some states if the one who caused the accident leaves to go get help … and then comes back to the scene. 

Hopefully, that is what happened to you – otherwise, you do the above and pursue the justice you deserve.

 

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