What To Do If You've Been Involved In A Hit And Run
You’re stopped in traffic…WHAM! Someone rear-ends you.
Then the person that hit you takes off!
What should you do?
DO NOT CHASE AFTER THEM. It’s dangerous and could lead to more problems than the ones you are stuck with now.
IF you can do so SAFELY:
Take a picture of the other vehicle’s license plate before it gets away.
If you cannot, try to remember the license plate number and write it down as soon as possible.
Try to remember the color, make and model of the vehicle that hit you.
IF your car is drivable, carefully move it to a safe area.
Call the police or highway patrol and file a report:
Tell them your location; describe the vehicle that hit you - including the license plate number and what happened.
Make sure you write down the police report number and the name and number of the officer or keep the card they give you. If the police find the person that hit you, you may be able to get them or their insurance company to pay for your damages.
After you have file a police report, call your auto insurance company and open a claim.
If the person that hit you cannot be found, you may still be able to get your injuries, medical treatment, and wage losses covered through your own auto insurance if you have Uninsured Motorist coverage. However, the law requires the following in order for you to be covered under your Uninsured Motorist insurance policy:
1. There must be physical contact between the hit and run vehicle and either you or your vehicle.
If someone cuts you off causing you to swerve and hit a tree, it wouldn’t kick in since the other vehicle did not actually hit your vehicle.
2. The hit and run must be reported to the police with 24 hours.
Don’t delay – call the police right away.
3. File a claim with your insurance company within 30 days of the hit and run.
Open a claim right after you file the police report.
THE SOONER YOU FILE THE POLICE REPORT AND OPEN A CLAIM WITH YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY - THE BETTER CHANCE THAT PERSON THAT HIT YOU MIGHT GET CAUGHT
Still unsure what to do? Not sure if you have Uninsured Motorist coverage? Forget to do one of the above?
We’ll answer your questions, give us a call.
The information on this website is for general information purposes only and nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation, including your own. The information contained on this website is not intended to create and receipt or viewing of it does not constitute an attorney-client relationship with Kinaly Law. Any submission of and/or our review of a submitted case or question may not be considered privileged or confidential and does not establish an attorney-client relationship.
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