What To Do After A Hit and Run Accident?

Being involved in a car or truck accident can be a scary thing, especially if you have been seriously injured. It can also be extremely frustrating if that negligent driver decides to take off and leave the scene of the accident. Hit and run accidents happen more frequently than you might think. There are many reasons someone might decide to take off. They could be scared, confused, or afraid that they might be arrested. No matter the reason, it is still wrong and against the law. Here at Robert Bates & Associates, we focus our practice on helping people seriously injured by negligent drivers. We have some suggested things to do if you have been involved in a hit and run accident.

1. The most important thing to do first is to call 911. Getting the police and first responders at the scene as fast as possible is extremely important. If people are injured, EMS needs to be there quickly to help and begin treatment. Also, having a police officer present can begin the investigation process and help identify the hit and run driver.

2. Since most people have smartphones on them, if possible, take photos of the other vehicle, the driver, and especially the license plate.

3. If photos are not possible, try to write down what the car looked like including the make, color, and model. Also write down if there were any distinctive characteristics about the car like tinted windows, a tail fin, an interesting paint job, or damage to the vehicle.

4. One thing you definitely should NOT do is attempt to chase after the fleeing vehicle and leave the scene of the accident yourself. By doing this, you may be causing more danger for other drivers with a potential secondary accident.

5. Talk to any witnesses that you can find and see if they can remember anything about the vehicle. Make sure to record names, addresses, phone numbers, and emails for every witness you can find. After you hire a lawyer, your attorney will want to take recorded statements from the witnesses to make sure what they remember is placed on the record. Keep in mind, people’s memories can fade over time.

6. Take note of any security cameras around the scene of the car wreck. There might be cameras on stop lights or other traffic control cameras. There also might
be business security cameras or those new doorbell ring cameras on people’s porches that recorded the auto accident.

Hire the Right Personal Injury Law Firm

The next thing to do is to hire a knowledgeable, experienced personal injury law firm with the resources to win your case. Here at Robert Bates & Associates, we place our focus on helping personal injury victims in the Tri-Cities region. It will be invaluable to have a fighter on your side who will investigate the case, gather all the evidence, and help the police find the hit and run driver so that they can be held responsible. If you have been seriously injured by another’s negligence, you have the right to be fully compensated.

Robert BatesRobert is a Kingsport trial lawyer who handles car, truck and motorcycle wreck cases across the Tri-Cities. Every client gets his cell number.