One minute you’re cruising through a green light down a largely empty street, parked along the side.
The next moment, it feels like the world has been turned on its side. You’ve been hit. Your car might have been damaged. You could be injured. And the very worst part? The other person took off, never to be found.
In these moments, it’s easy to think hope is lost, that there’s no resolution in sight. But that is very rarely the case. If you’ve been hit by a driver who took off before they could be apprehended and held accountable for their actions, you have rights and options.
This is often why people in the same or similar positions turn to hit and run accident attorneys for help. Hit-and-run attorneys truly understand what you’re going through and how best to navigate the mess that seems to follow.
What Is a Hit and Run?
Such incidents are just what they sound: one driver hits another and then speeds away from the scene without leaving much information, if any at all. The incident could be anything from a major traffic accident with lots of injuries to a seemingly simple scratch or ding in the parking lot of your favorite store or restaurant.
But leaving the scene before acknowledging the situation is both morally and legally wrong. And whether you know it or not, you likely aren’t entirely helpless. If the person who hit you, your vehicle, or both bailed out long before you could do or say anything at all, here’s some good news: there still might be something you can do.
First Steps to Take After a Hit and Run
- Take a breath. Stay calm. Your safety is most important.
- Call 911: Report the crash and get help if you’re injured.
- Take pictures: Note the location, other vehicles, and damage.
- Question witnesses: Find out if they saw the car or know the license plate.
- File a police report to have it on the record.
- Speak to your insurance: They’ll want the police report, pictures, and more.
The police may find the driver and help you recover the costs. Witnesses or other information could lead you to the suspect as well. But either way, you’ve taken all the right steps.
How Attorneys Can Help You Move Forward
A hit-and-run case does not always provide a clear answer. Even with video evidence and assistance from law enforcement, it is totally possible that the driver is never found. That does not mean you are without options.
- This is how a lawyer can help:
- File uninsured motorist claims
- Decide on the appropriate settlements
- Sort through paperwork and engage in the negotiation process
- Provide you with protection from practices that insurance companies may use to weaken your case
- Help with medical debt, lost wages, and emotional suffering
There are many small things that a hit and run lawyer can assist with that are very easy to overlook if you are not a legal professional. This can include something like checking to see if any neighboring businesses have any relevant security footage on file or looking into how traffic patterns can help to recreate the situation.
You Don’t Have to Handle It Alone
A hit-and-run accident is more than just difficult: it’s physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausting. There is a fear, a doubt, and sometimes the guilt as a victim tries to place the responsibility for the accident on themselves. In many cases, hit-and-run victims can be left wondering how they find themselves in this position.
Don’t panic! You have a lawyer who knows what to do in these situations and is ready and willing to fight on your behalf. A hit-and-run attorney can be a greatly needed resource for hit-and-run victims.
