Dealing With Hit-and-Run Accidents

If you’re involved in any kind of car accident, it’s a scary and stressful situation. If your car is struck and the other driver flees the scene, this can be an especially trying time, and you might be unsure how to handle it.

To help you be prepared in the event of a hit-and-run accident, here are some steps to follow:

If anyone was injured during the accident, call 9-1-1 right away before doing anything else. Be sure to get yourself to a safe space off the road and away from oncoming traffic, and turn your hazards on.

There may have been other witnesses to the accident. If there were, talk to them and get their information so they can be contacted again later. Ask them if they were able to get the other driver’s license plate and any other information they may have gathered.

Take pictures of any damage, and write down any and all information you have. You’ll want to get a record of the events as soon as possible so you don’t risk forgetting them as time goes on.
Within 24 hours of the accident, report the incident to the police. If your vehicle is so damaged you can’t drive it home, you’ll want to call right away for help.

Call your auto insurance company as soon as possible to get the claims process started. Most companies require that an incident is reported within 24 hours or you risk being denied coverage.

Those are the basic steps you should follow if you’re involved in a hit-and-run, but there are also some things you might be tempted to do but aren’t a good idea.

For example, your instinct might be to chase the fleeing vehicle. This is unsafe and it should be left up to the police to find the other driver. You may also risk losing out on witness accounts if you leave the scene.

The collision coverage portion of your our auto insurance policy can help take care of the damage to your vehicle. Call Lupton and Luce Insurance today to make sure you have the right plan in place!