How do police find hit and run drivers?- leaving the scene of car accident investigations.
According to data I have, the USA alone experiences more than 700,000 hit-and-run accidents, which accounts for at least 10% of the total average car accidents registered yearly.
For those living in UK, the Motor insurance Bureau reports a steady increase in the number of hit-and-run cases since 2013. This same body that compensates hit-and-run cases reports having been handling on average 16,000 hit-and-run cases yearly.
In my previous articles, I already told you that the majority of hit-and-run accidents remain unsolved. In fact, atleast 90-95% of hit and runs drivers are not caught by police leaving the majority of cases unsolved. Wanna know the reasons?
According to Adams, a police officer in California, “Police actively hunt for hit and run drivers, but because there is always insufficient evidence, many drivers are never found”
But how does police find the hit-and-run drivers? How do police investigate drivers that illegally left the scene of an accident? Alright, let’s explore those questions in the rest of this article.
Simply put, Police may use evidence from the accident scene, including witness accounts, surveillance footage, vehicle debris, and forensic analysis, to locate hit-and-run drivers.
Buth, this is not all, so let’s continue to dive in!
Page Contents
Understanding Hit and Run Incidents: Types and Consequences
A hit and run accident occurs when one of the drivers involved in the accident illegally leaves the scene of an accident. Usually, the drivers are mandated to stop at the scene of an accident and do the following:
- Share personal/ contact information with fellow drivers
- Report the crash to the traffic authorities/ police
- Render help if there people injured or died
- Share insurance information with the other driver.
Depending on the circumstances of the accident and or severity of the injuries/damages, you may be charged with a hit and run felony or hit and run misdemeanor.
A minor hit and run, also called a hit and run misdemeanor implies there were minor or no injuries, and or only property damages.
On the other hand, you will be charged with a hit and run felony if the accident resulted in deaths or severe injuries.
“Whether you committed a hit and run felony or hit and run misdemeanor, your penalties usually include jail time (prison time), fines, probation, and suspension or revocation of your driver’s license”, says Mark, a policeman at South Gate Police Department, California.
But of course, as you anticipated, the penalties of a hit-and-run felony are much more severe and incriminating compared to punishments given to those charged with a hit and run misdemeanor.
Police Techniques for Identifying Hit and Run Drivers
Soon after leaving the scene of an accident, police will swing in and look for the hit and run drivers. Police usually rely on the pieces of evidence collected to hunt for the hit and run driver.
The following are techniques used by police to look for and find hit and run drivers.
1. Gathering information and other pieces of evidence from the scene of an accident.
2. Interviewing witnesses. Police may need first-hand information from eyewitnesses who saw what happened at the scene of an accident.
3. Review surveillance footage. If the accident took place in busy spots and high volume traffic, there could be chances the incident was captured by a nearby security camera.
4. To find the hit and run drivers, Police also may utilize forensic techniques such as DNA analysis and vehicle examinations.
5. Social networks. In today’s era, social networks play a major role in police crime investigations. Someone who saw the accident could post stuff on social networks that police could take advantage of in investigating hit and run crimes.
Legal and Ethical Considerations in Hit and Run Investigations
“There are legal and ethical considerations that police must take into account when investigating hit and run incidents”, says Johnson, a police officer at Oakdale Police Department, California.
Legal and ethical considerations in hit and run investigations include the following:
1. Obtaining search warrants. Police is supposed to present a valid search warrant if they came to your house to investigate any crime, hit and run inclusive.
2. Yes, you could illegally flee the scene of an accident, but in certain jurisdictions, a suspect is still innocent not until proven guilty. Police is mandated to respect the rights of suspects and victims.
3. Police must adhere to due process while handling hit and run suspects (drivers).
Collaboration and Technology in Hit and Run Investigations
While investigating cases to do with leaving the scene of an accident, “police is supposed to collaborate among different agencies, and the use of technology can aid in identifying hit and run drivers”, says Johnson.
“This may include partnerships between police departments, forensic experts, and other stakeholders, as well as the use of tools such as databases, surveillance systems, and data analysis techniques”, Concluded Johnson a police officer.
Prevention and Education: Promoting Responsible Driving
Leaving the scene of an accident has harsh consequences for both the victim and the driver that committed a hit-and-run offense.
Leaving the scene of an accident puts at risk the lives of hit-and-run victims. The victim left helpless at the scene could die from injuries, and also may not easily get compensated since the other driver left without sharing his insurance information.
On the other hand, the driver that commits hit and run is liable to both civil and criminal actions, not forgetting other social implications.
According to my research, more than 60% of hit and run drivers are not aware of the crime they are committing by leaving the scene of the accident.
Most drivers leave the scene of an accident just because of a simple traffic violation or other cases like drinking under influence (DUI), driving with a suspended or expired driving license, and other simple cases.
Assume a scenario where a driver while escaping charges of driving with an expired driver’s license, decides to leave the scene of an accident only to commit a hit-and-run felony!
You may escape a simple charge but spend more than 20 years in prison by just choosing to leave the scene of an accident.
This is the very reason authorities should emphasize the importance of prevention and education in reducing hit and run incidents.
According to Dolan, an attorney in San Fransico, a few of the hit and run prevention strategies include “public awareness campaigns, driver education programs, and law enforcement efforts to promote responsible driving and discourage hit-and-run behavior”.
“A few of the major ways of reducing hit and run crimes is driving responsibly, increasing concentration, avoiding driving under influence, increasing awareness of your surroundings, and adhering to traffic laws”, concludes Dolan.
Conclusion.
How do police find hit and run drivers? In conclusion, hit-and-run investigations require thorough examination of evidence, including physical clues, witness accounts, and surveillance footage.
To successfully find the hit and run drivers, police use a combination of forensic techniques and diligent detective work to track down and hold accountable those who flee the scene of a car accident, ensuring justice for victims and promoting road safety.
