A hit-and-run happens when someone causes a car accident and leaves without stopping to check if anyone is hurt, share their contact details, or report the crash. In most places, fleeing the scene of an accident can lead to criminal charges like fines, license suspension, or even jail time.
For the person hit, it can mean dealing with injuries, car damage, and financial loss with no one to hold accountable, at least not right away. If you’re the victim, you need to know exactly what steps to take to protect yourself physically, legally, and financially. Hiring an experienced attorney for hit-and-run accident claims is one surefire way to do this.
What To Do Right After the Accident
First, stay calm and get to safety. If your car is still drivable, pull over to the side of the road, away from traffic. Do not stay in your car if you're on the shoulder or in a travel lane; get out and move somewhere safe, like a sidewalk or a patch of grass away from the road.
Once you’re safe, try to remember and record every detail you can. If you saw the other car, write down or type into your phone the license plate number, make, model, and color. Note anything unique about it, such as scratches, bumper stickers, or missing mirrors. Did it speed off in a certain direction? Write that down too. The time, exact location, and road conditions matter as well.
If you have a dashcam, save the footage right away. It could be the best evidence you have. If anyone’s hurt, call emergency services immediately. If no one is injured, still call the police. They’ll give you a crime reference number, which is important later for insurance and possible legal claims.
Talk to Witnesses and Gather Proof
If there are people around who saw the crash happen, ask if they’re willing to help. Politely get their names and contact details. You don’t need to interview them; just ask them to stay and talk to the police or be willing to give a short statement later.
Take clear photos of your car, even if the damage looks small. Snap pictures from multiple angles and zoom in on dents, scratches, or paint that might have transferred from the other vehicle.
Also, take photos of the scene itself and capture anything that could show what happened. The more you document, the better.
Don’t Chase the Other Driver or Leave the Scene
You might feel like going after the other driver, especially if you think you can catch them. Don’t do that. Leaving the scene means you’ll miss your chance to talk to witnesses or give your statement to the police. Plus, it could make things worse for you legally. From the outside, it could look like you were trying to run too.
You should also never delay calling the police or your insurance company. The accident report helps both the police and your insurance provider track down the other driver and back up your claim.
Contact Your Insurance Company As Soon As You Can
Let your insurance adjuster know about the accident right away. Don’t wait a few days. Call them or file the report online while everything is fresh in your mind. They’ll ask for the police crime number, the date, time, and location of the crash, and any photos or witness information you have.
If you have comprehensive cover, you can usually make a claim, even if the other driver isn’t found. But be aware that you might lose your no-claims bonus and still have to pay the excess (the amount you contribute to the repair costs). Some policies come with no claims discount protection or excess protection, which could help.
Third-party-only insurance, or third-party fire and theft, won’t help much here because they don’t cover your own car. If you’re not sure what kind of coverage you have, ask your insurer directly.
Work with the Police and Explore Your Legal Options
You’ve done your part by reporting the accident and giving all the information you could. Now, the police will start looking for the driver. This is where those little details you recorded, the license plate digits, dashcam footage, and eyewitness accounts can come in really handy.
But sometimes, the police can’t find the other driver, and your insurance would not cover all the damage. That’s when you might want to talk to a good lawyer.
They will walk you through your options, help you gather more evidence, and represent you if you decide to go after compensation in court or through another route.