Experiencing a hit and run accident can be stressful and difficult to deal with. The best thing to do is to know your options and understand how best to deal with the situation should it arise.

What is a Hit and Run Accident?

A hit and run is when a driver flees the scene of an accident without stopping to exchange insurance and personal details with the other parties involved, or discern whether any parties are injured or if there’s any property damaged. In these circumstances, the driver may have hit a pedestrian, hit a moving or parked car, or hit a fence or other property. Fleeing the scene of an accident is a crime in itself.

Why Do Some Drivers Hit and Run?

There are countless reasons why a driver might choose to flee the scene of an accident rather than take responsibility for their actions. If the driver is intoxicated, driving a stolen car, has no proof of insurance, or already has multiple tickets are just a few possibilities.

What To Do If You’re the Victim of a Hit and Run

1. Car accidents are usually unexpected and all parties are likely to be shaken up about the incident. If you are involved in an accident, try to remain aware of the other party. Take a mental note of the make and model of the other driver’s vehicle and their license plate in case they decide to flee the scene.
2. If you are in a serious crash, your first concerns are unlikely to be the actions of the other driver. Understandably, your primary concern should be the safety of you and your passengers. If you are unable to recall anything about the other vehicle involved, ask other drivers at the scene. If they were aware of what was happening, they are quite likely to have taken note of the license plate themselves. If they also got a look at the driver, a description of their physical appearance would also be of use to you. Without a description of the driver, the owner of the car could still deny responsibility.
3. If your car is parked at the time of the accident, don’t hesitate to knock on the doors of local residents. Similarly, if your car was parked in a public lot, ask business owners if they happened to witness anything. Some parking lots also have surveillance cameras, so there may be a recording of the incident.
4. Ensure that the police are aware of the incident – they may be able to help find the hit and run driver, but without any evidence they’re unlikely to consider the case a high priority. Because of the lack of evidence in many hit and run cases, many hit and run drivers cannot be traced.
5. If you have the license plate number of the vehicle that hit you, try the DMV – they might be able to help you find the vehicle owner.
6. Depending on how significant the crash was, you might want to consider hiring an attorney.

Will My Insurance Cover a Hit and Run?

If you live in a no-fault state, you’re in luck as your insurance should cover any hit and run incident.

If you live elsewhere, whether you’re covered for a hit and run depends on the insurance policy you’ve chosen. If you have uninsured drivers insurance, this should mean your coverage extends to hit and run incidents. If not, it will be difficult to claim without finding the driver.

If you experience a hit and run and are in need of advice or assistance, call Insure on the Spot today.