What if You Dont Know if It Was a Hit or Run?
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Being involved in a car crash tin be stressful, peculiarly if the other person involved flees the scene.
Unfortunately, this happens more than you might realize. At that place'due south a striking-and-run accident every minute in the U.S., according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
If you're involved in a striking-and-run, the condom of anybody involved is the tiptop priority. But it's important to keep calm and document everything you tin. This will save you time and stress subsequently on, especially when you make a police study.
Pro Tip
Brand sure anybody is safe, then call 911. Don't leave the scene of the accident before the law arrive.
We asked police force enforcement and insurance experts how to best handle a hitting-and-run incident and how it can touch on your car insurance.
What is a Hit-and-Run
A hit-and-run is when at least 1 person involved in a standoff leaves without offering help, sufficient data to the other driver, or fails to written report the crash to the authorities. This could exist with a pedestrian, car, or object.
In most states, the human activity of leaving the scene, whether your at-fault or not, is against the law. And depending on the circumstances could be a misdemeanor or fifty-fifty a felony.
If the other driver cannot exist identified, you lot'll probable have to pay for expenses resulting from the crash. If you lot take full coverage auto insurance or uninsured motorist coverage, and so the damages to yous and your property may exist covered by your policy.
To properly cover yourself, speak to your insurance provider. "They will guide you in the right management regarding the limits you should behave on your policy and then that you are properly protecting yourself from hitting-and-run drivers," says Joelle Ferraiuolo, take chances solutions advocate for Insurance Marketing Agencies, an insurance agency in New England.
What You lot Should Do After a Hitting-and-Run
After you've been involved in a hit-and-run blow, there are certain steps you should take equally quickly equally you can. In these situations, every moment counts.
Brand sure you lot're condom
Starting time, check for injuries on yourself and any other passengers. If someone is injured, phone call 911 earlier doing anything else. Police force enforcement can aid with medical aid.
"At that place'south stress when beingness involved in a crash. Yous know, at that place'south shock. So that's ane of the reasons why if you're injured in whatever way to call 911, and then our dispatchers tin can call an ambulance and brand sure you're safe," says Dusty Francisco, public data officeholder for New Mexico State Police force.
"Make sure the safety of you lot and other occupants in the vehicle comes first," says Francisco. If your auto is in a unsafe location after the crash, move out of impairment'due south way once it's safety, he says. Check to see if you're articulate of other traffic, then move your auto to a safer location where you won't exist in danger of another collision.
Assemble information
Once you're safe, write down as much information as you can on the other automobile and driver.
"Assemble as much information as possible at the time of the crash — vehicle make and model, color of the vehicle, license plate number, maybe who was driving the vehicle, [and] direction of travel," says Derek Senegal, public information officer for Louisiana State Police.
Written documentation is important, so y'all don't have to rely on retentivity alone. Pictures can also be helpful.
If in that location is a witness nearby, ask if they'd be willing to give a argument to the police and take their contact information, Senegal says. "If y'all're in a major thoroughfare — of grade at that place are going to be more people around — await for a witness if you can," continued Senegal.
Call the police
Call 911 as soon as you lot tin can. If someone is injured, you should call before doing anything else. Only fifty-fifty if nobody was hurt, it's important to call the police sooner rather than afterwards.
"Don't await for a couple hours — just telephone call usa then we can exit there," says Senegal. Police departments become calls after a hit-and-run crash hours afterward the incident took place, says Senegal. "Nosotros tin't practice also much for yous at that fourth dimension. We need to brand sure we go out in that location immediately, then we can get everything going for y'all," he connected.
After the officer on the scene makes a report of the accident, you should inquire for a re-create. Your insurance company may require a constabulary report as part of your claim.
Contact your automobile insurer
Once the police finish their report, and you're able to go out the scene, contact your insurer and file a claim. The sooner you call, the better your memory of the incident volition be. Try to file a claim the same day as the accident if you lot tin.
"You should practise it every bit soon every bit the police force report has been filed. You lot typically have within 30 days to file a claim," says Ferraiuolo.
If you demand a tow, this is a good time to contact your roadside assistance provider, if you lot have information technology.
Insurance Implications After a Hit-and-Run
Your insurance policy might choice upwardly the tab after a hit-and-run if you have the right coverage. Simply the coverage available to you lot varies by state, and how your policy handles a hit-and-run varies by insurer.
In near states, drivers are required to have liability insurance to cover damages that they cause to other people. However, if the at-fault driver flees the scene or is uninsured, you may be on the hook to pay for the damages to your own car.
Having collision coverage and medical payments coverage tin aid you greatly in this situation. Collision coverage pays for damage to your car, and medical payments coverage pays for your hospital bills after an blow.
Lack of insurance is one reason why a commuter might flee the scene of an blow. If you take uninsured motorist property impairment coverage, your own insurance company might cover your repair costs if the at-error driver is uninsured or you don't know who to file a claim against, such as with a hit-and-run. In a like vein, uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage tin embrace your medical expenses.
If you're non sure how your policy will handle a hit-and-run, check with your insurance providers.
Source: https://time.com/nextadvisor/insurance/car/what-to-do-after-hit-and-run/
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