Hit & Runs: Preparing Ahead to Avoid Being a Victim

Hit & Runs: We are seeing them more now than ever. With inflation and rising insurance rates, we suspect that people are cutting corners in a very irresponsible place: vehicle insurance. This is illegal, and yet it doesn’t stop people from driving without insurance. Without insurance, a driver who caused a wreck is likely to flee rather than risk arrest. Often times when an at fault driver runs away (hit and run) it is because they have no insurance and/or some type of arrest warrant. However, sometimes there is a valid insurance policy and in those cases we fight hard to make the driver pay for their irresponsibility.

Unfortunately we cannot stop people from driving without insurance, but we can help you be prepared for a Hit & Run so that if it does happen to you, the outcome may be better.

We will provide you some information on how to handle a hit and run below - but I want to be very clear on one thing - the absolute best way to protect yourself right now is to add collision coverage and uninsured motorist coverage to your auto insurance policy. Carrying Collision coverage and Uninsured Motorist Coverage protects you from the irresponsibility of others who drive without auto insurance, including hit and runs. If you do not have these coverages on your policy and the other person has no insurance or we cannot find them, you will have nothing to compensate you for your vehicle repair/total loss or injuries.

Now if you are ever a victim of a hit and run, I want you to remember the following information.

Getting into an auto accident is disorienting and often scary. It’s hard to think straight when your heart is racing and it’s easy to forget what to do first. We recommend the following steps:

1- Train your brain to always look for the license plate number. A plate number will help the police track down the driver in the event that they flee the scene. A license plate is even more useful than the car or truck's description.

2- Call 911- You need a police report and if you’re severely injured you may need an ambulance. The police can help track down the driver and provide information about the driver and his or her insurance company.

3- If you’re physically able, take pictures and videos of the scene of the accident, license plate, other driver's information (including insurance cards & drivers license), intersections, and any other identifying markers.

4- Get medical treatment. Depending on the severity you can go to the Emergency Room, Urgent Care, or a doctor as soon as possible. *Remember, the longer you wait the tougher it will be to prove the injury was caused by the wreck.*

5- Call an Attorney - and we know a damn good one. INFORMATION HERE.

6- Call your insurance and tell them you've been involved in a wreck - this will start the process and you'll be assigned a claim number and claim handler.

As your lawyer, we will gladly do this for you. *YOU SHOULD NEVER speak to an Insurance Adjuster about your injuries because you don't know the extent of your injuries yet. What you say can and will be used against you.* When speaking to your insurance, you can just say, "Yes I am hurt, but I will not discuss that. You can talk to my lawyer about my injuries.”

Most importantly, the sooner you contact us, the better we can assist you. Moving quick to open the claim will get you into a rental quicker, someone can begin repairing your car or pay you out for total loss, and we can can assist you on getting back to your pre-injured condition.

Are you the victim of a Hit and Run? Give us a call for a free consultation.