What to do in a Hit and Run Accident in Florida
The first impulse that most individuals have after hitting someone with their car is to drive off. So, along with leaving you injured, you cannot hold the driver accountable. Hit-and-runs can be unfortunately common, with the best-case scenario usually being serious injury. If you’re unlucky enough to be in a hit-and-run, then here are a few things that you should do first:
What to do if you were just in a hit-and-run;
Here are the few steps that you should take following a hit-and-run accident;
1. Ensure safety
The first thing that you should do following a hit-and-run is to call an ambulance or other emergency services. With adrenaline pumping through your body, the severity of your injuries may not be apparent yet. So, make sure that you get the proper care for your injuries, and call relevant medical services to help you.
Calling an ambulance can also help establish a timeline for when the accident occurred, helping you build a case. Another important reason why you should call for medical help is that they can help you identify any injuries that you have. This can greatly benefit your case and help you get compensation for your medical needs.
2. Call the police
Next, you want to call the police and report a hit-and-run. Try to be calm and answer any questions that they ask. This police report is integral to getting proper compensation for any injuries that you incur or any property damage following the accident. Along with asking you a few questions about the driver or car on the phone, police officers will also ask you to describe the vehicle. At this point, you should be honest about how much you remember about the vehicle. If you happen to spot any witnesses there, you can ask them to help fill in the blanks.
3. Collect Evidences
Now that you’ve called the police and they’re on their way, you should start to gather evidence. Leave voice memos for descriptions of the car while they are fresh in your mind, as well as details about the driver. Some important details that you can keep on you include:
- Type, model, or color of the car
- The license plate number of the car
- Anything you remember about their driver that can be colored hair, hairstyles, etc
- Identifying marks on the car like bumper stickers or dents
Also, try to look for any eyewitness who can tell you more about the car or the driver. You should also try to spot security cameras nearby, which can have a recording of the entire incident. Along with being a good tool to help catch the runaway driver, this can also be part of your case, further ensuring that you get compensation for the traumatic experience that you have been through.
In addition to having photographic evidence, maintain the documentation from the day of the incident. Document everything that you had to go through due to this mishap, such as;
- Medical visits
- Emotional distress
- Car damages
- Missed working days
- Loss of wages
Such documents will help compensate you for all the losses that you suffered due to the accident.
4. Contact your personal injury lawyer
Contacting a personal injury lawyer in West Palm Beach as soon as you talk to the police and gather evidence ensures that you don’t make any mistakes when you are talking to your insurance provider. Even on call, saying the wrong thing to your insurer can make reaching a settlement more difficult. The lawyer will walk you through the legal proceedings, all while telling you how to answer questions to your insurer and to the police.
5. Contact your insurance company
Prompt communication with your insurer is necessary to process your claim. Insurance companies can be very specific about the information that they require from you, which is another reason why you should properly maintain your documentation.
They often employ different tactics to minimize payouts, like questions about the intensity of the accident or damage that you have been through. However, calling them soon after the incident is also important for the sake of record keeping, letting them know that you were in an accident.
While hit-and-run cases can be very traumatizing, drivers rarely manage to get far away before being caught. With the help of security cameras and other tech, you can easily find out who was responsible. But until you find out, you should take these steps following a hit-and-run accident.