A hit-and-run accident creates a difficult situation for an injured person. You may know that another driver caused the crash, but you may not know who that driver is or how to locate them.
The driver may leave before you can obtain a name, insurance information, or license plate number. That does not necessarily mean you have no options.
Depending on the circumstances, an injured person may have other potential sources of compensation. Finding out what happened and identifying available insurance coverage can be critical.
What Is a Hit-and-Run Accident?
A hit-and-run occurs when a driver involved in a crash leaves the scene rather than stopping and providing the information required by law.
The circumstances can vary considerably. A driver may hit another vehicle and leave. A motorist may strike a pedestrian, cyclist, or motorcyclist and drive away. A parked vehicle can also be damaged by a driver who leaves without identifying themselves.
For an injury victim, the immediate priority is getting medical attention and reporting the incident.
What Should You Do After a Hit-and-Run?
Try to collect as much information as possible without putting yourself in danger.
If you can safely do so, write down:
- The vehicle’s make, model, and color
- The license plate number or even part of it
- The direction the vehicle traveled
- A description of the driver
- The location and time of the crash
- The names and contact information of witnesses
Photographs can also help. Take pictures of your vehicle, the accident scene, debris, skid marks, nearby signs, and anything else that may help investigators understand what occurred.
Call law enforcement and make sure the crash is reported.
Look for Cameras and Other Evidence
Hit-and-run investigations can depend heavily on evidence collected after the vehicle leaves.
A nearby business may have surveillance cameras. Traffic cameras may have captured the vehicle. Doorbell cameras or security systems at nearby homes may also contain useful footage.
Witnesses can be equally important. Someone standing nearby may have seen the vehicle, recognized the driver, or captured part of the incident on a phone.
Do not assume that video will remain available indefinitely. Many surveillance systems automatically delete older footage when new recordings replace it.
What If the Driver Is Never Found?
One of the biggest concerns after a hit-and-run is what happens if police cannot identify the driver.
Depending on the circumstances and the insurance policies involved, your own uninsured motorist coverage may become important. Uninsured motorist coverage can potentially provide protection when an at-fault driver does not have applicable insurance, including certain hit-and-run situations.
The specific terms of the policy matter. Insurance companies may also investigate and challenge claims.
That is why it is important to review your insurance coverage rather than assume that a hit-and-run automatically means there is no possible recovery.
What If the Driver Is Eventually Identified?
Finding the driver can significantly change the situation.
Investigators may identify the vehicle through witnesses, surveillance footage, license-plate information, physical evidence, or other investigative methods.
Once the driver is identified, questions may include whether the driver had insurance, whether another person or company may have responsibility, and what evidence establishes that the driver caused the collision.
The circumstances of the crash should be investigated before assumptions are made about who can be held responsible.
Hit-and-Run Injuries Can Have Long-Term Consequences
A person injured in a hit-and-run may face the same serious consequences as someone injured in any other collision.
Depending on the circumstances, injuries can include traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, fractures, nerve damage, internal injuries, and other conditions requiring extensive medical treatment.
The financial consequences can extend beyond emergency-room bills. An injured person may also face rehabilitation costs, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and other losses associated with a serious injury.
Do Not Give Up Because the Driver Left
A hit-and-run can leave victims feeling as though they have nowhere to turn. But the fact that the driver fled does not automatically eliminate every potential source of compensation.
The police investigation, available insurance coverage, physical evidence, witness statements, and surveillance footage may all matter.
If you were injured in a hit-and-run accident in Birmingham or elsewhere in Alabama, Shaun Capps Injury Law can review the circumstances of your crash and discuss potential options for pursuing compensation.