After a hit and run, what to do? call insurance or lawyer?
Leaving the scene of an accident is a criminal offense and is highly punishable by law, right?
You must stop at the scene of an accident and provide your contact information as well as your insurance information. In addition, any person that is involved in the accident has a right to receive help/aid from you if they are injured.
To avoid getting a traffic ticket, you must also report the crash to the authorities.
Failure to observe the above-mentioned legal obligations implies you committed a hit and run offense, and depending on the circumstances of the crash and traffic laws in your area of jurisdiction, you may be in for severe punishments.
Recommended reading: What Happens If You Have a Car Accident Without Insurance?
Though this varies from state to state, penalties for leaving the scene of an accident include jail time/ prison time, fines, suspension of your driver’s license, and other traffic tickets specific to your case.
Nobody wants to spend the rest of their life or up to 25 years in prison on top of hefty fines. Once you fled the scene of an accident, your next step should be how to defend yourself if police arrest you.
In the event of a hit and run, do you call your insurance company, or your hit and run lawyer? Well, let’s dive in and explore who between the 2 you need most. ready, let’s explore further now.
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When should I contact the police after a hit and run incident?
A potential hit-and-run charge implies you left the scene without observing your legal obligations as I already explained. It implies that among others, you did not contact or invite police to the scene.
If you panicked and left the scene of an accident, I highly recommend contacting the police immediately after you calmed down your nerves.
“Turning yourself in may help lessen the possible penalties”, says Morgan, a car accident attorney in Los Angeles.
“You should also contact police immediately after a hit and run if there are sound reasons that prevented you from stopping at the scene, for instance, you were threatened, they were no safe parking point, you were attending an emergency, etc”, concludes Morgan.
But according to Morgan, it’s best advisable to speak to an attorney and if possible seek legal representation before you call the police. “You don’t want to say things to police that will later incriminate you”, says Morgan.
What information should I gather at the scene of a hit and run accident?
Instead of choosing to flee the scene of an accident, you should instead stop and gather the following information like statements from eyewitnesses, pictures of the injuries/damages, surveillance footage, etc.
Such information will help you prove that you did not cause the accident, and more still it will show the authorities you stayed at the scene should the other driver choose to change statements.
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In short, “When at the scene of a hit and run accident, gather crucial information such as the vehicle’s make, model, color, license plate number, any distinguishing features, and take note of any witnesses or surveillance cameras present”, says Jimmy, a policeman in California.
How can I identify the driver who fled the scene in a hit and run?
If you are a hit-and-run victim, then you have the heavy-duty of hunting down the offender.
This is because, car insurance companies usually refuse to compensate victims since they fear they may never recover their money. It’s not surprising for an insurance company to refuse to settle your compensation claims.
Following a hit and run, you can identify the driver by using the information and evidence you gathered at the scene.
“To identify the driver in a hit and run, gather details, seek witness statements, check for surveillance footage, document the scene, and promptly report the incident to the police”, says Mark, a policeman at Hollenbeck Community Police Station.
What should I do if I don’t have uninsured motorist coverage for a hit and run?
It’s mandatory for every driver to purchase auto insurance here in USA, unless you come from the 2-3 states/districts where the driver has additional options for auto insurance.
One of the mandatory insurance policies is liability car insurance. If you caused an accident in which people got injured or had their cars damaged, liability insurance will help you to pay them off.
Unlike a liability insurance policy, collision car insurance helps to repair or replace your car if you caused an accident.
Another insurance policy also called uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage covers your losses if the other driver has no or inadequate insurance coverage to compensate you for your losses.
If you are involved in a crash where the other driver fled the scene and cannot be traced, the only way to get compensated is to file your claim against uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance coverage.
Further reading: The Role of a Car Accident Attorney in Maximizing Your Compensation
What happens if you do not have an uninsured/underinsured motorist policy? well, then you must cover your losses from your own pockets or savings.
You may also claim from other insurance policies like a collision insurance policy if you were involved in an accident but the driver fled the scene.
Should I report the hit and run to my insurance company even if I don’t have comprehensive coverage?
Yes, go on and report the hit-and-run to your insurance company even if you do not have comprehensive coverage. This is because comprehensive car insurance does not cover hit-and-run accidents.
Comprehensive insurance covers non-collision events like fire, vandalism, floods, hailstones, collision with animals, etc.
After a hit and run, what to do? call insurance or lawyer?
Finally, let’s answer the question now. In my own opinion, you should call a defense lawyer soon after leaving the scene of an accident.
I already explained how severe the penalties of committing a hit and run are, and so you would benefit from someone who will aggressively defend you in either of the criminal courts, civil courts, and or traffic courts.
In short, A defense lawyer is needed after a hit and run to protect your rights, navigate legal procedures, minimize penalties, and build a strong defense strategy against potential criminal charges.
Conclusion.
Following a hit and run, you may be puzzled about what to do as your next step. Whether to call a lawyer or an insurance company depends on who you are as far as a hit and run accident is concerned.
If you are the guy who left the scene of an accident, it’s highly beneficial if you speak to a lawyer first. on the other hand, a hit-and-run victim usually benefits from calling an insurance company.
In summary, After a hit and run incident, it is recommended to call the police immediately to report the incident and then contact both your insurance provider and a lawyer for guidance.
Source /References:
1. What does liability car insurance cover? website: https://www.nationwide.com/lc/resources/auto-insurance/articles/liability-coverage-definition
2. Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage. Website: https://www.allstate.com/resources/car-insurance/uninsured-motorist-coverage#:~:text=Uninsured%20motorist%20insurance%20protects%20you,expenses%20of%20any%20injured%20people.
3.defense attorney | Wex | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute: website: https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/defense_attorney#:~:text=Defense%20attorney%2C%20also%20known%20as,a%20lawsuit%20or%20criminal%20prosecution.
4. What to Do After a Hit and Run. Website: https://www.statefarm.com/simple-insights/auto-and-vehicles/what-to-do-after-a-hit-and-run
