What to Do After a Hit-and-Run Accident

Knowledgeable Lawyers Serving Hit-and-Run Accident Victims across RI and MA

Being involved in a vehicle collision can be an extremely stressful experience. Fortunately, in most cases the at-fault driver stays at the scene so that you get their contact information and pursue a claim for compensation. But, what if they flee the scene? What can you do to protect yourself?

Steps to Take Following a Hit-and-Run in Massachusetts or Rhode Island

Here are five things to do (and not do) after being involved in a hit-and-run accident.

1. Call 911. The first thing you should do after any hit-and-run accident is call 911. If you are injured, getting medical help should always be your top priority. In addition, you will want to file a police report. This police report will be important for insurance purposes, and depending on where the accident occurred the police may be able to obtain traffic or security camera footage of the collision.
2. Write down any information you can about the car that hit you. While you should never attempt to chase after the car that hit you (see below), you want to record as much information about it as you can without leaving the scene of the accident. Make, model, color, damage suffered, license plate number, and any distinguishing characteristics can all help the police in searching for the hit-and-run driver. If you saw the driver (for example, if they got out and inspected their car before driving away), write down any information you remember about the driver as well.
3. Take photos of the scene of the accident. As with any accident, you should take plenty of photos. You can never have too many. Take photos of the road, the surrounding area, the damage to your vehicle, and any injuries that you’ve suffered. These photos may be critically important for establishing the cause of the accident so that you can obtain financial compensation.
4. Talk to any witnesses and get their contact information. Even if the at-fault driver doesn’t stop, hopefully someone else will. As you are taking photos and waiting for the police to arrive, look around for anyone who may have stopped to help or see if you’re ok. Even if they didn’t catch the hit-and-run driver’s license plate number, they still may have witnessed the accident or have other details that could help your case.
5. Do NOT leave the scene of the accident. While it may be tempting to try to chase down the other driver, you should stop yourself from doing so. Not only can this be extremely dangerous, but you also need to stay on the scene until the police arrive. If you leave the scene of the accident without obtaining a police report, you run a greater risk of being forced to file an at-fault claim against your own insurance policy. Additionally, if you leave the scene, you lose your chance to take photos, and any witnesses are likely to be gone before you get back.

Contact the Bottaro Law Firm, LLC about Your Hit-and-Run Accident

If you have been injured in a hit-and-run accident, the attorneys at the Bottaro Law Firm, LLC can help you. Whether you were injured as a pedestrian, on a motorcycle, or while driving another vehicle, we can do everything possible to seek to obtain the compensation you deserve. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation about your case, call us at (866) 529-9700 or contact us online today.