How to Stay Safe After a Hit and Run Accident

Being involved in a hit-and-run accident can be a scary and confusing experience. Whether you are the victim or witness of the hit and run, staying safe after an accident is important. Even if the perpetrator has fled the scene, there are several steps you should take to protect yourself and gather evidence for any possible legal proceedings.

This article will share essential tips for staying protected following a hit-and-run accident. Whether you were involved in the incident or not, these tips can help safeguard your rights. You’ll learn helpful information about what steps you should take immediately after the crash and how to collect evidence to assist in any future legal proceedings.

What Is a Hit and Run Accident?

If you’ve been in a car accident and the other driver has fled the scene, this is known as a hit and run. It’s a serious offense with significant legal consequences, so it’s important to be aware of your rights and options to stay safe after a hit-and-run accident.

A hit-and-run typically occurs when someone damages your property or causes you physical harm but deliberately leaves the area without providing identification or insurance information. In most cases, this offense is classified as either a felony or misdemeanor depending on the severity of the damage caused by the at-fault driver.

So, it’s important to document everything that happened during the accident, including any witnesses or physical evidence at the scene, to ensure you have all the information necessary to proceed with your case.

What Are the Immediate Steps to Take After a Hit and Run Accident?

If you’ve been the victim of a hit-and-run accident, your first concern should be your safety. Immediately after the accident, ensure you are in a safe place with no risk of further harm. That may mean stepping out of traffic or onto a sidewalk away from a busy street.

Next, do a quick check of yourself for any pain or injury. If there is any evident pain or bleeding, call 911 immediately for emergency medical help. Otherwise, you can contact the police to file an official report on the incident.

It’s also important to collect as much evidence as possible from the accident scene—if it is safe—including photos, license plate numbers, or witness testimonies. Try writing down these details and collecting any physical evidence, like broken car parts on or around the accident site. This physical evidence can be crucial when reporting and filing an insurance claim.

Unfortunately, hit-and-run accidents can happen quickly and unexpectedly, leaving you feeling shaken and alone. But there are steps you can take to protect yourself and get the help you need.

Remain calm

First, take a deep breath and remain as calm as possible. This is especially important if there is another person involved in the crash. Take the time to assess the situation before anything else.

Get to Safety

Once you determine your safety, try to move your vehicle off the road if it is safe. If not, turn on your hazard lights and stay put until help arrives.

Assess your safety

Assess whether it is safe to remain at the scene or if you need to leave for any reason, such as approaching traffic or weather conditions. If need be, and it is safe, go to a nearby public place with more people.

Call For Help

If needed, call 911 and report the accident. Provide details such as license plate numbers, make and model of any other vehicles involved, location of the accident, contact information for any witnesses or passengers, and medical detail if necessary.

Finally, it is essential that you report the incident to local law enforcement as soon as possible so they can investigate the matter and hopefully identify the perpetrator. Even if they do not find anyone responsible for the hit and run, having legal authorities be aware of what happened can protect your rights in future disputes or complications.

Gather evidence

Collect information from other drivers or witnesses on the accident scene. If applicable, try to get photos or video footage of damaged vehicles or roads. In addition, take notes on what happened leading up to the crash and immediately after it occurred

This could be helpful in the long run when filing an insurance claim or contacting law enforcement about potential hit-and-run charges laid against another driver for fleeing an accident scene.

Call an Attorney

If you have been injured as a result of a hit and run, it is always best practice to contact an experienced attorney who can assist you in exploring all available legal avenues. They can guide you through the process and help ensure that your rights are fully protected.

Inform your insurance provider

Immediately after the incident, you should call your insurance company to inform them of what has happened. This is important since it will ensure that your claim is handled properly and that you are adequately compensated for any damages or injuries sustained.

Don’t Leave the Scene of the Accident

It’s essential that you don’t leave the accident scene — stay put until help arrives and take steps to protect yourself from further harm. Move your vehicle away from traffic and switch on your hazard lights if possible.

What Should You Do if The Driver is Known but Left the Scene?

If you know the driver who left the scene, contacting law enforcement is important. Describe the vehicle and the driver, and provide any other information you have. It’s also important to remember that the driver may not have realized that the accident is serious or even something you plan to report.

Whether or not you decide to file a claim against them, do not attempt to confront them while they are on the road—or anywhere else, for that matter. Instead, document all evidence of what happened and take pictures if possible. Sharing this crucial evidence with law enforcement is also helpful in identifying and locating the driver who left the scene.

Finally, take care of yourself by engaging in self-care activities such as relaxing in a quiet space or getting fresh air. This will help ensure your safety after a hit-and-run accident and give you time to process what happened.

Contact Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers for Hit and Run Attorneys Serving Pembroke Pines

If you have been involved in a hit-and-run accident, contact the Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers team immediately. This team is a trusted South Florida law firm experienced in personal injury cases related to hit-and-run and auto accidents.

Our attorneys are highly experienced in dealing with these types of cases. We will provide you with the legal assistance needed to protect your rights and get the best possible outcome for your case.

When it comes to hit-and-run accidents, it’s important to contact an experienced hit and lawyer serving Pembroke Pines and surrounding areas who can help protect your rights from those who caused damage without taking responsibility for their actions. Our hit-and-run accident lawyers are here to help you through this difficult time – no matter what side of the road you find yourself on. Contact us today at (561) 800-8000.