Being involved in a hit and run accident is stressful and can make you really frustrated towards the person who hit your car and left the scene. While you may want to run down the person and give them a piece of your mind that actually isn’t the best solution to the problem. We have great advice for people who are wondering what they should do if they ever find themselves in a hit and run situation.
If you have spent very much time in a big city it can feel as though you are watching a television show titled Hit and Run Las Vegas because sadly it is much more common than it should be. From people hitting parked cars, to cars that are driving along side of them, hit and run accidents are actually pretty common. Emotions run high in these situations and you may feel overwhelmed and not know how to handle the situation. Following the advice below can really save you a lot of stress in the weeks to come when you are dealing with medical care, if you were injured, and trying to repair the damages done to your vehicle.
Think Quickly
As hard as you may imagine it to be, you need to stay calm in the minutes following an accident. While you really just want to let your temper fly, if you can remain calm you will be able to think better and gather the evidence that is going to be very helpful in the weeks to come.
The first thing you should do is started vocalizing the information that can help you identify the driver and type of car that has hit you. Saying this information out loud is very beneficial and can help you remember better when you are asked for what you remember later. If you are able to write down the license number that is great, if not try and remember make and model as well as what the driver looked like. If there were things that stood out to you about the car say those things as well.
Once the driver is gone you should check with other passengers in the vehicle to make sure that no one is injured. If there are injuries, you need to call 911 and get help on the way. Once the emergency responders come, it is likely that you will be able to give your report to a police officer and the information that you vocalized will come in very handy.
It is also important that you gather information from the eyewitnesses that watched the hit and run accident. While it is easy for you to become overwhelmed and not gather the right details, people who have watched the accident have likely also gathered information and remember what happened. Have them write down what they saw and also get their contact information from them.
If you can do these things well, you have the best chance of either finding the person responsible for the accident, or having the claim paid by your insurance company. While it would have made you feel better to chase down the car, it is not the best way to handle the situation. Being prepared and having your mind made up about how to handle the situation is the best way to make the most of the problem.