The impact does not appear to be enough to have caused either driver any harm. Yet, you signal for the other driver of a vehicle accident to pull over, and it appears the other driver will comply. Suddenly, the other driver hits the gas and speeds off into the distant horizon.
You have just become involved in a hit and run auto accident.
How you handle this highly frustrating event determines the outcome of the claim you submit to your car insurance carrier. Without the account provided by the second driver, there is not much information for your insurance carrier to use besides the information provided by you. The most important thing to do after a hit and run accident is to involve law enforcement, as the other driver has committed a crime.
The Clock is Running on Your Insurance Claim
Car insurance claims have a statute of limitations that should motivate you to act with a sense of urgency. The time limit imposed by state law is the primary factor that determines how long you have to submit a legally valid auto insurance claim.
Typically, state law places a two-year statute of limitations for filing a personal injury car insurance claim and you have three years to file a claim to cover the costs associated with property damage. Since hit and run accidents require a detailed police investigation, you might already be facing time pressure to submit an auto insurance claim on time.
The clock begins to run on your claim on the day of the accident. Since it might take law enforcement weeks, if not months to locate the driver of the other vehicle, you should consider working with an experienced personal injury attorney who specializes in handling hit and run vehicle accident cases.
You should also know that there is a different process for filing a car insurance claim, if the hit and run driver works for a state, federal, or municipal government agency.
What You Need to Know about the Claim Process
The law enforcement officer who responds to your hit and run accident will submit all the evidence required to process an insurance claim in a timely manner.
He or she will also take the statements of witnesses to the crash, with special attention paid to the description of the hit and run vehicle, as well as any of the numbers and/or letters on the license plate of the hit and run car. A police report in a hit and run accident case is the most valuable document you will submit with your car insurance claim.
As the second most important document, the medical records associated with any injuries suffered because of the hit and run crash will provide your insurance carrier with an accurate cost of your diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. Medical documents should include bill statements and canceled checks either created in print or digital form.
Contact a Licensed Attorney
A hit and run accident is a serious event that can include the filing of criminal charges. When you consult with a state licensed personal injury lawyer you may get legal support in case the state issues charges to the other driver.
Schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney to determine the best course of legal action.
