According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, approximately eleven (11) percent of all car accidents reported to the police involve a hit-and-run driver. A hit-and-run accident can be especially frustrating because the at-fault driver may escape justice after hurting you and your car, and committing a crime.
Take these steps if someone hits your vehicle and drives off:
- Call 911 and write down any details you remember about the vehicle if you were inside when it was hit.
- Search for any witnesses. Whether you were inside your vehicle, or it was hit when parked, ask around to see if anyone nearby witnessed the incident. If you find any witnesses, be sure to write down their contact information in case the police or your insurance company need to reach them.
- Take photos. If it’s safe to do so, take some photos of the scene where the collision took place, as well as any damage to your vehicle. Especially take photos if any paint was transferred onto your vehicle.
- If 911 is not called right away, be sure to report the hit and run to the police within 24 hours. A hit and run IS considered a crime, and it’s extremely important that you report it as soon as possible. After you report it to the police, you may then be advised to go to a collision center if there’s one nearby. If the police tell you that the damage is too minor to report, write down the officer’s name, badge number, and phone number so your insurance can follow up.
- Call your insurance. Be prepared to provide as many details as you can to help your insurance company process your claim as quickly as possible.
Keep in mind that even if you can track down the hit and run driver, it might be hard to recover any money from them. That’s because many hit and run drivers:
- Do not have car insurance;
- Are driving an unregistered vehicle;
- Are not licensed to drive any vehicle; or
- Were in the act of committing a crime when they hit you.
Contact Kaiman & Crahan, Your Louisville Attorneys, today, at 502-771-0741 if you’ve been involved in a hit and run.