There are two kinds of hit and run accidents — the ones where you are present and the ones where you are not.
If you walk out to your car in the morning and it’s been hit while you slept, you simply call your insurance company. Typically, this damage is fixed with your collision coverage as if it is your fault. You will have to pay the deductible. With no witnesses, there is not much else you can do.
If you are present, and the other driver takes off, write down the license plate number and a detailed description of the car and the driver. (Don’t try to commit anything to memory. Write it down on your hand if you have to.) Immediately find witnesses and collect their contact information. Get them to verify what you saw. You will need to speak to them again in the near future. Call the police and file a report.
Next, call a lawyer.
Hit and run accidents get complicated very quickly. Generally, there is a reason why the other driver ran. That driver may not have insurance or may not have permission to be using the car. If someone is willing to run from a car accident, he or she is not likely to tell the truth about the accident. The police are busy and might not be as dedicated to your case as you might like. A good lawyer will know how to navigate through the system to get the right answers.
Medical problems arising out of the accident will mean a significant amount of money will come into play. Emergency room bills, long term care costs, and lost wages are just a few ways a car accident with injuries can influence your finances for years.
If you were to blame (in whole or in part) for the accident, you will need a lawyer to protect your current and future assets — including your income for the next 20 years. Insurance companies are paid to represent your interests up to a certain point. Then they walk away. Your lawyer will stick by your side until all the bills have been paid and the other driver is held financially responsible for the accident and the fallout.
