The other vehicle seemed to come out of nowhere just before it hit you. While you and your family sit in your vehicle’s seats, stunned and possibly badly hurt, you hear the other car’s vehicle’s screech as the driver speeds away.
You have been the victim of a hit-and-run driver. What you do in the next few minutes can not only make sure you and your family get the medical attention you need. It can also help you hold the driver who injured you financially responsible under Florida law.
Here are eight steps to take after a hit-and-run auto accident:
Get out of traffic
If you or your vehicle are still on the road, move your vehicle away from traffic if you can. But keep it as close to the crash site as possible.
Check for injuries
Examine your body for possible injuries, and ask everyone else in the car if they are all right. If someone has been seriously hurt, call 911. Even if everyone seems okay at the moment, some car crash injuries don’t emerge immediately. Get checked out by a doctor as soon as possible, and make sure your passengers do too.
Call the police
You will likely need a police report about the wreck to help make your case to the insurance company that the hit-and-run driver was at fault. Leave the accident scene untouched as much as possible so the officer who comes to the scene can investigate. Tell them everything that happened.
Search the scene
While you are waiting for the police to show up, look over the scene (assuming you are not too injured to do so). A piece of the other vehicle could be lying on the road that could identify it.
Write down what you remember
As soon as you can, write down the details of the crash. Include everything you remember about the other vehicle, like its license number, make, model or color. The more you can recall, the more likely it could be that police will find the vehicle and the driver who hit you.
Take pictures
Thanks to smartphones, virtually everybody has a digital camera in their pockets. Take photographs of the damage to your vehicle.
Talk to eyewitnesses
If anybody saw the accident happen, get their names and contact information. Ask them if they would stay and speak to the police officer.
Contact your insurance company
Call your insurance agent and tell them you were in an accident. Ask what information they will need to file your claim.
Besides getting medical care for your injuries, doing everything possible to get proper financial compensation for your damages is the most important thing you can do. Hiring an experienced personal injury attorney can greatly improve your chances of a smooth and successful process.