A car hits you.

Before you can exchange information, the other driver speeds away.

Now what?

A hit-and-run accident can leave someone dealing with two problems at once.

First, you may be injured.

Second, you may have no idea who caused the accident or whether that person has insurance.

The moments following a hit-and-run can be confusing, but what you do next may become important.

If you are physically able to do so, focus on safety, medical attention, documentation, witnesses, and preserving as much information as possible.

Do Not Put Yourself in Danger Chasing the Driver

Your first instinct may be to follow the vehicle.

That can create another dangerous situation.

Instead, try to remember or safely record as much identifying information as possible.

That may include:

  • License plate number or partial plate
  • Vehicle make
  • Vehicle model
  • Vehicle color
  • Approximate year
  • Damage to the other vehicle
  • Direction the vehicle traveled
  • Description of the driver
  • Description of passengers
  • Stickers or identifying markings

Even a partial license plate combined with a vehicle description may potentially help an investigation.

Write down what you remember as soon as possible.

Memory can become less precise with time.

Report the Hit-and-Run Accident to Law Enforcement

Report the collision.

Provide law enforcement with the information you were able to gather.

If witnesses are present, encourage them to remain long enough to provide information when possible.

A police report can help document that the accident occurred and that the other driver allegedly left the scene.

Leaving is itself against the law. California Vehicle Code section 20001 requires a driver involved in an accident that injures someone else to stop immediately at the scene, and a driver who does not can face jail time or fines. That is one more reason the details you gather can matter.

Preserve any report number or paperwork you receive.

Look for Witnesses

Someone else may have seen more than you did.

A pedestrian may have noticed the license plate.

Another driver may have seen where the vehicle went.

An employee at a nearby business may have witnessed the collision.

Someone’s dash camera may have recorded the vehicle.

Ask nearby people:

“Did you see what happened?”

If they did, obtain their name and contact information.

Do not assume law enforcement or an insurance company will automatically locate every witness.

Look for Cameras

Video can be especially valuable after a hit-and-run.

Look around the accident location.

Potential cameras may include:

  • Business surveillance cameras
  • Residential security cameras
  • Parking lot cameras
  • Traffic-related cameras
  • Doorbell cameras
  • Dash cameras

If the accident happened near a shopping center, restaurant, gas station, apartment complex, office building, or residence, there may be video showing the collision or the vehicle leaving.

Video may not be retained forever.

Identifying potential footage early can be important.

Photograph Everything You Can

Take photographs of your vehicle before repairs when possible.

Capture:

  • Damage
  • Debris
  • Paint transfer
  • Broken vehicle parts
  • The roadway
  • Intersection signs
  • Skid marks
  • Nearby businesses
  • The surrounding area

If a piece of the other vehicle was left behind, do not simply assume it is meaningless.

It may potentially provide information about the vehicle involved.

Seek Appropriate Medical Attention

Do not allow the frustration of the driver leaving to distract from your health.

If you are injured, seek appropriate medical attention.

Tell healthcare providers that you were involved in a motor vehicle collision and accurately describe your symptoms.

Keep your:

  • Medical records
  • Bills
  • Prescriptions
  • Work restrictions
  • Appointment information
  • Other injury-related documentation

A hit-and-run is still an accident, and your injuries still need to be properly evaluated.

What If the Driver Is Never Found?

This is one of the most important questions after a hit-and-run.

People sometimes assume:

“If they never find the driver, I have no options.”

That may not necessarily be true.

Depending on the circumstances and the terms of your automobile insurance policy, your own coverage may become important.

This is one reason uninsured motorist coverage deserves attention.

The application of insurance coverage depends on the facts of the accident and the policy involved, so the specific policy should be reviewed rather than assumptions being made about coverage.

Notify Your Insurance Company

A hit-and-run may involve your own insurance policy.

Report the accident according to your policy requirements and provide accurate information.

Keep records of your communications, and be careful with recorded statements.

Ask for confirmation of:

  • Your claim number
  • The adjuster’s information
  • Applicable coverage
  • Any documents being requested
  • Important policy requirements

If you are unsure what your policy covers, obtain a copy of your declarations page and policy.

Do Not Assume the Case Ends When the Driver Disappears

A fleeing driver makes an accident claim more complicated.

It does not automatically make it impossible.

There may still be:

  • Witnesses.
  • Video.
  • Physical evidence.
  • Vehicle information.
  • Insurance coverage.
  • Other documentation.

The key is preserving what is available.

At Khashan Law Firm, we can review the circumstances of a hit-and-run accident, available evidence, and potential insurance coverage to help an injured person understand what options may exist.

A hit-and-run accident can leave you injured and wondering who will be responsible for your medical expenses, lost income, vehicle damage, and other losses.

Do not automatically assume there is nothing you can do simply because the other driver left the scene.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a hit-and-run accident, contact Khashan Law Firm for a FREE consultation. Our car accident and personal injury team can review the available evidence, insurance information, and circumstances of the collision to help you understand your options.

Khashan Law Firm proudly serves clients throughout Ontario, Murrieta, Rancho Cucamonga, Temecula, the Inland Empire, Southern California, and communities across California. Hablamos EspaƱol. (866) 34-INJURED