Whenever you are in a vehicular accident with another driver or a pedestrian, you must stop and exchange information. The information should include your proof of insurance and your contact information. What you never should do is leave the scene of the accident – even if the other driver does, and you want to catch up with that person. A driver who flees the scene of the accident is considered a hit-and-run driver. If you are struck by a hit-and-run driver, the following tips could be very helpful.
Document the Accident Scene
You should document the accident scene with a cell phone camera or a digital camera if you have either handy. The photographs and any video footage can show the driving conditions, damage to your vehicle, and any skid marks or other visual evidence of the accident. If your car has an onboard camera, it might have footage of the vehicle and its offending driver. A hit-and-run driver breaks the law by not stopping to render aid or exchange information when involved in an accident. Even if that driver does not cause the accident, fleeing the scene makes that person liable for hit-and-run criminal charges.
Call 911 to Report the Hit-and-Run
When another driver flees the accident scene, it’s important to call the police immediately. You should stay there and call 911 to request a police response. When the police arrive, you can tell them what happened, show your proof of insurance, and give them your contact information. You can describe the other vehicle, its direction of travel, and the driver if you get a look at that person. Staying to talk to the police also helps to prevent you from being declared a hit-and-run driver if the other motorist should return or report the accident later and accuse you of leaving the accident scene.
File an Insurance Claim
Michigan’s no-fault auto insurance law will help to cover the medical cost of treating your injuries if you suffer any. When a hit-and-run driver flees, insurers consider that person to be an uninsured motorist and handle related claims as such. That means no liability insurance is available to pay for the damage to your vehicle. Instead, you would need either collision insurance coverage or uninsured/underinsured coverage to pay up to policy limits. Retaining an experienced Detroit car accident lawyer who can help you understand how a hit-and-run claim works could help you get the best settlement when the other driver flees the scene of a hit-and-run accident.
