What to do if you’re the victim of a hit-and-run accident

Few car accidents are as frustrating as hit-and-runs. If this has happened to you when on a Washington roadway, you might initially feel at a loss about what to do. However, there are important steps to take immediately.

Don’t follow the other driver

Many victims of hit-and-run accidents experience a surge of anger seeing the offending driver flee the scene. Your vehicle suffers damage and you might not yet feel the physical effects of the collision, but if your instincts tell you to follow the other driver, ignore them. Doing that could lead to trouble; it could become a road rage situation and someone can get hurt. Instead, stay in your vehicle and move it to a safer spot. If your car won’t start, get out and move to a safe area.

Call 911

Call 911 immediately to report the accident. The police can come to the scene and prepare an accident report. You can also ask for an ambulance so that you can get a medical assessment by first responders and can be taken to the hospital for further evaluation.

Take notes

Take notes of what you remember; even having some details of the hit-and-run vehicle is better than nothing. The make and model, color of the vehicle and even a partial license plate number may help the police when they begin tracking down the driver. If you got a glimpse of the driver, you could even go to the police station and describe the person to a sketch artist.

Contact your insurance company

Contact your insurance company to start an accident claim. If you have uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection, they might be able to pay for your damages. These types of coverage often help after hit-and-run accidents when the driver cannot be found.

All car accidents are traumatic, but hit-and-runs often leave you confused. Taking these steps might make things easier.