It is our sincere hope that neither you nor your loved ones ever experience the trauma of a hit and run accident. We may think that this could never happen to us, but sadly it does happen. If you are involved in an accident and the driver flees the scene of the accident, you deserve justice.
Everything happens so fast and depending on the severity of your injuries, the situation may arise where you need an ambulance to take you to a hospital right away. Whether the accident was minor or major do not panic, we have some tips for you to remember.
Scene of the Crime
In California, once an accident has occurred and the driver flees the scene, it becomes a crime and it is illegal to flee the scene of an accident without stopping and providing your information. Whether the driver who hit you is uninsured, driving illegally, under the influence, or they did not realize a collision has occurred there is no excuse for fleeing. You might hear some people say, “I’ve heard that many hit and run accidents go unsolved.” This should not discourage you from trying to seek justice.
First and foremost, if there are any injuries sustained by you or anyone else involved, call 911 immediately. Even if you do not suspect injury by you or any other person in your vehicle, it is still in your best interest to seek medical attention.
After assuring that there is no immediate medical attention needed and it is safe to do so, take a moment to observe your surroundings. Take notes of the scene and write down what you remember. It may be likely that you did not see the license plate or the driver who hit you however, if you happen to recall anything about the other vehicle, the driver, or maybe even a few numbers from their license plate, write down what you remember seeing before you forget.
Take pictures of your vehicle, your injuries, and the surrounding area. Do not underestimate the power of pictures especially when the accident has just occurred. Look at the scene, try to see if any debris flew off of their vehicle, a piece of their headlights, or any personal belongings. It might seem like a long-shot but gathering as much information as you can could help.
Call the police immediately or at least within 24 hours so an officer can arrive at the scene and begin taking down a police report. This can be especially helpful for legal purposes later.
Try to speak with any witnesses. If there were any witnesses, get their name and phone number. Maybe someone waiting for the bus saw the whole thing and they can give you some details about the car or the driver.
Of course call your insurance company and report the incident.
Take a look around at any local businesses like a gas station. It is likely that they have security cameras or street cameras.
If a situation arises where you were taken to a hospital by someone or an ambulance and there was absolutely no details taken at the scene, don’t let that stop you from seeking advice from an injury lawyer. If you are in the hospital recovering from your accident and time goes by without you having even returned to the scene, still seek advice from a personal injury lawyer.
There may be hope that with their expertise and resources that they can help you either figure out who the driver was or help you get compensation from your own insurance provider.
Stay Calm and Focus on Recovery
Being involved in any accident is scary and it can be especially frustrating if the driver takes off without owning up to what happened. We hope that you never have to experience anything like this but if this does happen to you or someone you know, the best thing you can do for yourself is focus on getting better.
If you have already called the police and you have already sought advice from an injury lawyer then you have taken a step in the right direction to get justice. But you owe it to yourself and your loved ones to remain calm, rest up and get better. Keep up with your medical appointments, call your doctor if your symptoms worsen, keep going to treatment and take care of yourself.
If you or someone you know is ever involved in a hit and run accident, remember that we are here to help you. Contact our office for a consultation.