It is the type of auto accident that leaves you fuming. You come out of a grocery store after an hour of shopping to find a huge dent on the side of your vehicle. No note, no explanation for why the driver of another car hit your vehicle.
A hit and run accident can also happen out on the road, when the driver of another car bangs into your car at an intersection, and then the driver flees the scene of the accident. After the shock of a hit and run crash subsides, you have to make several decisions that directly influence how to get compensation for a hit and run accident.
Although a hit and run crash seems to be a slam dunk for receiving auto insurance money, the fact remains that many insurers fights policyholders for a number of reasons. Second, you can file a claim against the other driver, but the success of litigation for a hit and run accident depends on proving another driver hit your vehicle, and then fled the scene of the accident.
Damages that Help Pay for Hit and Run Accidents
Property damage is what you need to worry about the most in the aftermath of a hit and run crash. Most hit and run crashes involve a vehicle that was stationary at the time of the accident. A moving car hitting a stationary car can lead to considerable property damage that can run into the thousands of dollars.
If your vehicle absorbed an impact made by a hit and run driver, property damage can include repairing the entire side of your car, as well as replacing vital vehicle parts such as the engine and the transmission. You might also have to pay for repairs to broken windows, smashed sections of the front of the car or the frame.
If you were driving your car at the time of a hit and run accident, chances are good that you received at least one type of personal injury. Whiplash immediately comes to mind, as most hit and run accident victims do not have time to brace themselves to absorb the violent impact on a stationary vehicle. Other types of common personal injuries associated with a hit and run accident include a concussion, bruised ribs, and a dislocated shoulder.
Collecting Evidence is the Key
Since a hit and run incident is a crime, the first thing to do after a hit and run accident is to contact the nearest law enforcement agency. The time that passes is critical after any type of car crash, but especially for hit and run accidents that occur without the presence of the vehicle owner whose car received the damaging impact. You should also speak to any witnesses that saw the hit and run accident as soon as possible after the crash.
Witness accounts of any type of car accident hold more credibility the closer the information is acquired after a crash. You want to a description of the other vehicle, as well as the license plate number and any other identifying pieces of information.
Speak to an Attorney
Whether you want compensation from your car insurance company, or you intend to go the litigation route by filing a lawsuit in a civil courtroom, working with a state licensed personal injury attorney can help you get back the money lost because of property damage and personal injuries. Take our free case evaluation to determine the strength of your case.
