What to Do After a Hit-and-Run Accident

A hit-and-run can be frightening and frustrating. The responsible vehicle may disappear before the injured person has time to identify the driver, leaving immediate questions about safety, medical care, repairs, and insurance.

The following guidance from Isaacson, Schiowitz & Korson, LLP can help drivers respond calmly and preserve potentially useful information. A pedestrian accident lawyer can help investigate a hit and run crash, identify available insurance coverage, preserve important evidence, and pursue compensation for injuries and other damages even when the at fault driver is not immediately identified.

Do Not Chase the Other Vehicle

It may be tempting to follow a fleeing driver, but a pursuit can create another collision or confrontation. Remain at the scene or move to a safe nearby location.

Try to observe the vehicle’s direction of travel without placing yourself or anyone else in danger.

Call Law Enforcement

Report the collision promptly. Provide the dispatcher with the location, vehicle description, direction of travel, and whether anyone is injured.

Reporting requirements vary by jurisdiction, but a prompt police report can create an official record and may assist with identifying the vehicle.

Record Everything You Remember

Write down details as soon as possible, including:

• License plate number or partial plate
• Vehicle make, model, type, and color
• Distinctive damage, decals, or markings
• Description of the driver
• Number of occupants
• Direction of travel
• Time and location
• How the collision occurred

A partial license plate combined with a vehicle description may still be useful.

Look for Witnesses and Cameras

Ask nearby drivers, pedestrians, residents, or employees whether they saw the collision. Someone else may have obtained a clearer view of the plate.

Look for dashboard cameras, doorbell cameras, traffic cameras, parking-lot systems, and business surveillance cameras. Record the locations of possible cameras and ask the owner to preserve the footage.

Many systems overwrite recordings automatically, so prompt action may matter.

Photograph the Scene and Vehicle

Take pictures of your vehicle’s damage, transferred paint, broken parts, debris, roadway, and surroundings. A piece left behind may contain a logo, number, or other identifying feature.

Do not handle debris if doing so would be unsafe. Tell the responding officer where it is located.

Seek Medical Attention

Hit-and-run victims face the same possibility of delayed symptoms as people injured in any other collision. Obtain emergency help for serious symptoms and seek appropriate medical evaluation if pain or other concerns develop.

Do not delay necessary care while waiting to identify the driver.

Notify Your Insurance Company

Report the accident promptly and provide the police-report information. Ask which portions of the policy may apply.

Depending on the policy and jurisdiction, possible coverage may include collision, medical payments, personal injury protection, or uninsured-motorist coverage. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners explains that uninsured-motorist coverage may apply in certain hit-and-run situations, but policy language and local requirements differ.

Ask about deadlines, documentation requirements, deductibles, and whether the insurer needs to inspect the vehicle before repairs begin.

Preserve Damaged Property and Records

Keep photographs, repair estimates, medical documents, receipts, witness information, and communications with insurers. Avoid repairing or disposing of important evidence before the insurer has had a reasonable opportunity to inspect it.

If repairs are necessary for safety, document the condition thoroughly first and retain relevant invoices and replaced parts when practical.

Be Informed

The fleeing driver may not always be found, but a careful response can improve the chances of identification and help preserve available insurance options. Prioritize safety, notify law enforcement, gather details, seek appropriate medical care, and report the incident to the insurer without unnecessary delay.