A Step-By-Step Guide to Deal with a Hit-and-Run Accident

Being involved in any sort of car accident is stressful. However, the ordeal could be much more complicated if the at-fault driver drives away and escapes the accident scene. With the right kind of legal and insurance help, you don’t have much to worry about. Here’s how you can go about it:

Step One: Safety

The first step is to always check up on yourself and your passengers. Call up 911 immediately if you can. However, if you’re too hurt, don’t move and wait for emergency personnel. See if there is someone nearby who can help.

If you can, try and move to a sidewalk. Only pull to the side of the road if the car is safe to drive or is causing a hazard where it is. If this is not the case, leave it where it is.

Step Two: Inform the police.

When you meet such an accident, it’s your legal responsibility to remain at the accident scene. Don’t get tempted to chase after someone or catch up with the other driver. It’s not your job to try and detain the driver. You’ll only make the situation worse.

Right after you get emergency aid, call the police and register the report immediately. This will make it easy for you to file an insurance claim. The sooner you inform the authorities, the quicker they’ll track down the driver.

Make sure you’re able to provide sufficient information to the police. If you’re not too injured, take notes of what happened. Take photographs of the damaged vehicle, the hit-and-run driver’s license plate, and the accident scene. Any other piece of information, such as the car’s model and color, could be helpful identifiers. If there are any witnesses, request them to stick around and narrate the incident to the police.

Step Three: Inform Your Insurance Company

The sooner you inform the insurance company, the sooner they’ll start working on your claim. The exact compensation depends on:

• The extent of damages
• Whether or not the hit-and-run driver is caught
• The type of auto insurance that you have

If the at-fault driver is caught, you can claim their liability coverage. If not, you’ll solely rely on your policy. If you have collision coverage, it’ll help you pay for the damages to your vehicle, irrespective of who is at fault. Similarly, uninsured motorist coverage pays for any bodily injuries, primarily if the at-fault driver drives away or isn’t insured. This type of coverage is also beneficial if the at-fault driver’s coverage isn’t enough to cover the losses.

Western Mass Auto Insurance addresses all of your questions regarding auto insurance Springfield MA, at unbeatable rates. Visit their office to learn more about the different types of auto insurance coverage that we offer.