Steps to Take After a Hit and Run Accident in Chicago, Chicago hit and run investigations.
For those of us that live here in Chicago, hit and run accidents are one the serious issues that affect us in many ways, right? According to recent statistics, Chicago alone experienced around 5,000 hit and run accidents.
For some of you that love data, the number of hit and run crashes had even increased that past year. From statistics, I was able to discover that there were around 37,226 hit and run crashes in Chicago in the year 2021 alone.
Hit and run accidents have serious impacts on the people of Chicago. In the past year, around 515 people were injured in Chicago due to these hit-and-run events.
According to my research, the impact of hit and runs on some families includes: causing physical, emotional, and financial harm. This is the very reason authorities in Chicago will do everything it takes to prevent such incidents and bring to book the perpetrators.
Recommended reading: Chicago Hit and Run Penalties
In this article, I will discuss everything you need to know if you are a victim of the hit and run auto accident. Do you want to understand how police investigate leaving the scene of an accident?
I will also try to explain everything you need to know if you are the guy accused of committing a hit-and-run. For instance, how is a hit-and-run investigated in Chicago, and Illinois at large? ready? let’s dive in!
Page Contents
Definition and Legal Implications
In Chicago and Illinois at large, a hit-and-run accident occurs when one of the drivers flees the scene.
He/she must stop at the scene of an accident, and exchange personal information with the other drivers. The driver must also wait at the scene and provide the required information to the police that responded to the event.
Recommended reading: Chicago hit and run accident attorney
Finally, some accidents involve injuries or deaths. In Chicago and Illinois at large, you must stop at the scene and provide/render aid to the injured.
Leaving the scene of an accident in Chicago without sharing personal and insurance information is a class A hit-and-run misdemeanor and the punishments are fines, jail time, and suspension of your driving rights.
In Illinois, the penalties as we shall see range from small fines and short jail time to hefty fines and long periods in prison.
Reporting a Hit and Run
The laws that guide hit and run vary by state. Below are the steps I recommend to follow if you witnessed a hit and run, or if you are a victim of the same incident. I bet these steps will also be valuable if you are the driver that left the scene of an accident.
If you witness or are involved in a hit and run accident in Chicago, it is important to take the following steps:
1. Ensure Safety. Just as in other auto accidents, our safety remains the top priority. Ensure that all the people involved in the accident are safe too. Move to a nearby point if you deem staying at the scene dangerous.
2. Call 911: You must report the accident to the authorities in order to help the injured get the needed medical services. Provide the operator at the police stations with as much accurate information as possible.
3. Gather Information. If you think it’s possible to do, gather the required information as much as possible. Make sure you took note of license plate numbers, vehicle descriptions, and any identifying features.
4. Provide a Witness Statement. If you witness the hit and run accident, provide a written or verbal statement to the police. Tell them exactly what you saw.
5. Cooperate with Authorities. Whether you were involved or you witnesses a hit and run, make sure you provide police with the required information. Answer any question they are going to ask you.
6. Document the Scene. After the hit and run accident, what follows is usually insurance claim negotiations and legal proceedings. You must document the scene like car details, injuries, environment, and others.
7. Contact Your Insurance Company. Contact your insurance company as soon as possible. Provide them with the information they need to kick-start your claim settlement.
8. Seek Medical Attention. If you are involved in an accident, seek medical attention right away even if you initially feel fine. It’s true, some injuries take days or weeks to show up.
9. Consult with an Attorney. You must consult with a car accident attorney or any lawyer that specializes in personal injuries.
The lawyer will ensure that your rights are protected, help you explore your legal options, and represent you during court proceedings or during negotiations with the insurance company.
Investigation Process
When handling hit and run cases in Chicago, law enforcement agencies typically follow a specific investigation process that involves evidence collection, witness statements, and surveillance footage. Here is an overview of the steps involved:
1. Receiving the Report. When the police receive any hit and run incident report, the report will be assessed to ascertain whether the information given alleges a crime, a danger, or no need to pursue.
2. Evidence-Gathering. Depending on what police decide to do with the report, police may kick in and find physical evidence like visiting the scene, taking photographs of the scene and injuries, and finding eyewitnesses.
3. Witness Statements. Eyewitnesses provide valuable information that helps in the investigation process.
4. Surveillance Footage. Traffic cameras, or any CCTV in the neighborhood could have captured the whole incident. This helps in identifying the hit-and-run car and any other traffic violations.
5. Evaluation and Processing. The traffic police will proceed to evaluate both the physical and digital pieces of evidence obtained. This may involve forensic analysis, such as examining vehicle damage or analyzing surveillance footage.
6. Obtaining Witness Statements. To build a strong case, police need to find strong evidence that incriminates the at-fault driver. People that witnesses the accident and maybe those that saw you or your car will be paramount.
What to do immediately after a hit and run accident?
If you are involved in a hit and run accident, stop the car in a safe location, call the police, look for witnesses, take photos of the damage, and contact your insurance company.
Do not follow the fleeing driver.
Legal options for hit and run victims
If you are a victim of a hit and run accident, you should report the accident, seek medical attention, contact a lawyer, file an insurance claim, and file a lawsuit if the driver is identified.
Recommended reading: What is the process to arrest someone for a hit and run with property damage?
Punitive damages may be imposed on the driver in some states. It’s important to consult with a lawyer who is familiar with the laws in your state.
How to identify the other driver?
To identify the other driver involved in a car accident, you can exchange information with them, ask for insurance information, check with the DMV, contact your insurance company, research the accident, and speak with witnesses.
If you are unable to identify the other driver, you may need to go through the state to report your accident and find the other driver’s information.
Preventing hit and run accidents
To prevent hit and run accidents, it is important to drive defensively, maintain a safe following distance, park in the center of a spot, and not drive under the influence.
Recommended reading: What type of insurance will pay for damages if you are the victim of a hit-and-run driver?
Additionally, wait for the vehicle owner to return if you hit a parked car, move your car out of the roadway if you’re involved in a crash, limit night driving, and develop a responsible attitude about driving.
Conclusion.
A hit and run occurs when one or more of the drivers that were involved in the accident leaves the scene of an accident.
In Chicago, and Illinois at large, it’s a serious offense, and the drivers risk serious legal consequences.
If you are a victim, you must gather evidence and any other information that will help you later should you initiate settlements with the insurance company.
The same information gathered right at the scene should help the police in a hit-and-run investigation process, and for the prosecutor to hold liable the at-fault parties.
So in short, After a hit and run accident in Chicago, it is crucial to stay calm, gather information, contact the authorities, and seek legal assistance to ensure justice is served.
Source:
1. Hit And Run Accident – ABC7 Chicago. abc7chicago. https://abc7chicago.com/tag/hit-and-run-accident/
2. What You Should Do if You’re Involved in a Hit-and-Run. (Dec 2022). I drive safely. https://www.idrivesafely.com/defensive-driving/trending/what-exactly-hit-and-run-accident
3. Bryant J. (Dec 2022). What is the Hit and Run Investigation Process? bryantpsc. https://www.bryantpsc.com/hit-and-run-investigation-process/
