Getting in a car accident is enough to ruin anyone’s day. Being involved in a hit-and-run situation can in itself be overwhelming and disorienting. It affects you physically and financially.
A hit and run involved a driver hitting a pedestrian, another vehicle, a stationary object and escaping the scene without providing contact information.
There is so much to be done when being involved in an accident. You have to call your lawyer, report to the police and insurance company, and visit the hospital for possible physical damages that happened on your body.
Here a few of the things that you should do when you face a hit-and-run accident:
What is a Hit-and-Run?
Hit-and-run is an accident where one party flees the scene of the crash, even if it’s only a fender bender. The official term is the failure to remain and is punishable by law with very serious consequences, especially when the victim sustains serious, impairing injuries.
Depending on the state where you live and the severity of the accident you are involved in, the consequences for leaving a crash can include criminal charges, fines, license revocation, and even jail time.
Anyone who gets in an accident is required by law to stay at the scene of the accident. They are also required to report to the police and provide any information about the accident.
Not staying at the scene of the accident is considered as breaking the law and punishable by law. If you are caught leaving the scene of an accident, you will be charged under the Criminal Code of Canada or the Highway Traffic Act.
Here are some of the things you should do after a hit-and-run accident:
Call 911 and the Police Immediately After the Hit-and-Run Accident
When you are confronted in a hit-and-run accident, the first thing you should do is to call for help from 911 if you were hit or someone was injured.
Once help is on the way, write down any details you remember about the vehicle that had hit you. Take note the color, make and model, and the license plate number even if you only remember part of it.
Then, file a police report as soon as possible. Being charged in a hit-and-run accident in Ontario is a grave offense that the police do not take lightly.
Anytime someone leaves the scene of an accident automatically commits a severe offense, and the hit-and-run automobile driver will face intense consequences when caught.
Providing the police with pertinent details as soon as you remember them will increase the driver’s chances of being apprehended. Give them all the information you’ve gathered, as well as the names and numbers of any witnesses.
Reporting a Hit-and-Run Accident to Your Insurance Company
It is crucial to note that most insurance companies require that any hit-and-run damage be reported to the police within 24 hours for the claim to be considered a hit-and-run.
With a hit-and-run accident, there is no other driver to hold responsible. This means that only your insurance company will be accountable for paying the damages that the hit-and-run driver caused.
Unidentified drivers are specific to hit-and-run accidents. If you are involved in a hit and run accident, your insurance will cover your loss.
Hit-and-run accidents are the only incidents where you will be required to pay your collision deductible, even when it was not your fault. The reason being that there is no other insurance company involved that can pay off the damages.
DEALING WITH HIT-AND-RUN ACCIDENTS
Know what to do if you get involved in a hit-and-run accident in Alberta. Talk to a car accident lawyer from Diamond & Diamond Law now.
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Additional Info Related to Hit-and-Run
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Checklist When Involved in Hit-and-Run
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Here is a checklist of what to do when you are involved in a hit-and-run accident:
- Stay calm – check if anyone has been injured.
- If the collision has resulted in any injuries, call 911 immediately.
- If no one has been injured, estimate the property damage for both cars.
- When property damage is less than $2000, then you can report it to a collision center in your area.
- Note the date and location that the collision took place, the more details you have the better.
- Take photos of your car and other evidence like car’s paint scraping off.
- Check if anyone saw the accident take place and jot down as many details from witnesses about the other car or the driver as possible.
- Always be sure to take down the witness contact details.
- Report the accident to the collision reporting center or the police.
- Inform your insurance company of the hit and run.
- Call a personal injury lawyer who specializes in hit and run accidents.
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Most Important Information You Need To Gather
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Here the most important information that you should gather when you are in the situation:
- License plate number
- The other vehicles make, model and color
- Description of the other driver
- Direction the other vehicle was headed
- Location, time and cause of accident
- Photos of the damage to your vehicle, especially if the other car’s paint is visible where the impact took place
- Photos of the accident scene
- Description of damage to the other vehicle
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Things to Avoid Doing After a Hit-and-Run
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These are the things you need to avoid doing after a hit-and-run
- Do not worsen your situation after a hit and run by giving false statements either to the police or the insurance company
- Do not make a mistake of calling the police once you have left the scene without any exchange of information, not at least until you have consulted an attorney.
- Never assume that you cannot escape hit and run charges at all.
- Do not provide statements to the insurance company without consulting your lawyer.
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One of the most important things to understand about hit-and-run is that it should be treated much the same as a regular crash. It can be confusing what to do next when confronted with such an accident. Contact Diamond & Diamond’s personal injury lawyers in Alberta to assist you and increase the chances of obtaining compensation for property damages and medical expenses.
Did you know?
Make a police report within 24 hours of the hit-and-run incident and inform your car insurance immediately. Many insurers will only accept a car insurance claim if a police report has been filed.
– Diamond and Diamond
Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer for Hit-and-Run Cases
Being involved in a hit-and-run can be scary, so as claiming for your insurance benefits. Before moving forward on your own, contact with a car or personal injury lawyer to help you.
Before moving forward on your own, contact with a car or personal injury lawyer to help you. The lawyer will take the time to collect all of the evidence needed to prove your case and help you get exactly what you deserve from your hit and run claim.
Do not underestimate the advantage of getting help from an experienced attorney. They can defend you and this is the only way that you learn about the available legal option for your case.
