After a car accident, the stress and hurt of what you have just been through can be isolating. You may feel alone. If you were injured in a hit and run accident, however, you may literally be alone. Being left at an accident scene with the at-fault party speeding off can be an incredibly difficult thing to experience. Unfortunately, hit and run accidents are not as uncommon as you might think. This is true regardless of the fact that a person who leaves an accident scene they knowingly caused without providing their information or assistance to those who may need it are in violation of traffic laws. If you ever find yourself as the victim of a hit and run accident, here is what you need to do.
What to Do After a Hit and Run
After a hit and run, try to keep as calm and cool as possible. Stay at the accident scene. Resist any urge you may feel to go off and pursue the hit and run driver who fled the scene. Doing so can be dangerous as well as put you at risk for getting into another accident. You will also miss out on collecting other pieces of potentially critical evidence, such as eyewitnesses to the accident. You also do not want to put yourself in a position where you are pursuing a driver whom you do not know what their mindset is or what would happen if you actually caught up with and confronted them.
Stay at the accident scene and call 911 right away. Documentation, such as a police report will be extra important since evidence of the accident is limited right away because the other driver took off. You will also want to call your insurance company right away to inform them of the accident. Failure to do this could jeopardize your access to any insurance benefits to which you would otherwise be entitled.
Be sure to document and report as much information as you can about the other driver as well as the accident in general. What was the make and model of the other vehicle? What color was it and did it sustain any noticeable damage in the accident? Did you see a license plate number? What direction did the other driver take off toward? Did you manage to get any photos of the other vehicle? Witnesses to the accident can also be valuable sources of information about the accident and the other driver. Be sure to gather any witness names and contact information.
Get medical attention to evaluate any injuries you may have sustained in the accident and comply with doctor recommendations for follow-up treatment. The road to recovery may be long, but it is likely to be longer and more difficult without getting immediate and consistent medical treatment. It can be difficult to prioritize your health when so much else is going on, but it is the most important thing to do for yourself and your well-being after an accident.
Philadelphia Personal Injury Attorneys
If you are injured in a hit and run accident, you are likely worried about how you are going to be compensated for the harm you have suffered. Talk to the dedicated team at Cooper, Schall & Levy about your options. Contact us today.
