Many people do not think that they need to be prepared for a hit-and-run car accident because they imagine that such accidents are rare. However, the fact is that there are more than 700,000 hit-and-run crashes each year! That is the equivalent of a hit-and-run car crash happening somewhere in the United States every 45 seconds or less.
With those kinds of numbers in play, there is a reasonable chance that you will be the victim of a hit-and-run car accident at some point. That being the case, it is important that you know what to do if this happens to you or someone you know. Otherwise, you may fail to take important steps that will help you keep a bad situation from becoming worse.
Read on to learn all about the most important things to do in the aftermath of a hit-and-run car accident!
1. Call for Medical Help if Necessary
Your health is the most important thing to focus on after an accident of any kind. Before you focus on anything else, consider calling for medical help. If you feel that there is nothing detectable wrong with you, then you may not need to call 911.
However, if you have any doubts, it is better to be safe than sorry. You can always call to provide more information about your situation and ask whether you should go to the hospital or not, or if you should have an ambulance come and get you.
As you look after your health, you should also make sure that you are not in danger of receiving further damage. Make sure that your car is safely out of the way.
Some people feel fine after a car accident. However, hours or even days later, they start to display symptoms. Then they tell themselves that they are just imagining things because they remember that they felt fine before.
In fact, it is normal and even common to develop more serious symptoms sometime after an accident occurs. If this happens to you, you should know that it is normal. You should also visit a medical professional to make sure that you get the treatment that you need.
2. Record Information After All Types of Car Accidents
Car accidents leave an incredible impression on the minds of the people involved in them. However, factual data about them can be fleeting. No matter the kind of car accident you have been in, it is important to get as much information as possible.
There is a reasonable chance that you will end up in court at some point related to a hit-and-run car accident. When that happens, you want to be able to point to recorded proof that things happen the way that you remember them.
This is especially important because people often remember stressful events differently. For that reason, the legal system knows not to treat memory as a perfectly reliable indicator of truth. If you want to prove your case, it is essential that you have hard evidence on hand.
If you find a great auto accident lawyer to help you, they will provide you with a long list of information that you should prepare. However, at the very least, you should take pictures or even videos of your injuries. You should also take careful pictures of any damage done to your car.
If there are any marks on the road or other signs in the environment that reveal anything about the nature of the crash, you should take photos or videos of those as well. You will also want to keep a careful record of any medical treatment you receive connected to the accident. That also applies to psychological treatment, if you receive any.
3. Consider Hiring a Lawyer
In many cases, hiring a lawyer will be the one thing that makes the biggest difference in how you manage the aftermath of a hit-and-run car accident. You have probably never been in this situation before. That is just one reason why it is so helpful to find somebody who has.
Remember not just to find a general lawyer. A general lawyer might be willing to take on a hit-and-run car accident case, but they may not have much experience with such cases. Instead, you want to find someone who specializes in hit-and-run car accidents.
Remember that hit-and-run car accident lawyers sometimes also manage other aspects of the law. If your auto accident lawyer has spent most of their career working on family law cases, then their experience may not be relevant for your case.
Instead, try to find a personal injury attorney who has spent a significant portion of their career developing their skills in managing auto accident cases.
4. Collect Witness Accounts
It is best to receive corroborating witness accounts from other people who saw your hit-and-run car accident. At the very least, that can prove that you were indeed the victim.
If possible, find people who are willing to say on an audio recording or video what they saw. You will also need their contact information.
5. Have Your Auto Accident Lawyer Help You With Your Insurance
You may find that your insurance company does not want to pay for your accident. If they can find a reason not to, they may take it. However, you can often force them to provide you with the help that you have paid for.
Doing this may require the help of your auto accident lawyer. Car accident attorneys have often helped people manage their insurance companies in the past, so they will know how to resolve the situation as fast as possible. That all by itself can be sufficient reason to get representation after an accident.
6. Do Not Follow the Driver
Some people get set upset after a hit-and-run car accident. They feel a desire to pursue the driver and exact vengeance in some way.
However, the law will be on your side as long as you are the victim and can prove it. Do not follow the driver. Instead, collect information about the crash and get help from a lawyer.
Understand What to Do After a Hit-and-Run Car Accident
When you know what to do after a hit-and-run car accident, you can keep a bad situation from getting worse. Finding the right lawyer can help you navigate this complicated legal situation.
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