What to Do When Someone Flees The Scene of a Car Accident?
“I was in a car accident and the other driver left the scene, what should I do?”
In the chaotic moments after a car accident, one of the most important steps is to obtain the other driver’s information. But what do you do if that driver leaves without telling you who they are or who provides their insurance?
First, assure your own safety. If possible, drive your car to the side of the road. If injured, call an ambulance or ask someone else to call. As soon as possible, call the local police and report what happened. It is important to get a police report that shows the other party caused the accident, left the scene and includes supporting information from any witness to the accident. It is also critical that you make note of the driver’s license plate, make/model of the vehicle, and take as many photos of the scene and the other vehicle as possible.
Even if you didn’t get the other party’s information, you can still make a claim for damages or personal injury.
Uninsured Motorist Claims
If you are unable to get the identity of the person or vehicle who caused the crash, you may not be out of luck. If you have Uninsured Motorist (“UM”) benefits on your car insurance policy, you can make a claim for injuries against your own insurance company. You may also be able to make a claim for UM benefits if the person who hit you did not have car insurance at the time of the accident. Please make a police report as soon as possible as a delay can prevent you from making this claim. This coverage is critical in allowing injured people to get compensated for their injuries when the car that caused the accident leaves the scene or when you are hit by an uninsured driver. Best of all, your premium will not go up by making a UM claim when the accident was not your fault. Flager & Associates can help you through this otherwise unpleasant experience and work to get you compensation for your injuries.
If you’ve been involved in a car accident and didn’t have a chance to exchange information with the other party, call Flager & Associates at (215) 953-5200 for a FREE case evaluation to find out what your legal rights are.
