Accidents are stressful and frustrating enough, not to mention costly and potentially life-threatening. But a hit-and-run accident can be even more troublesome because we are left questioning who's responsible, and whether there's any recourse. No matter if you're a passenger in a serious hit-and-run accident, or if you simply see that someone hit your car in a parking lot and drove away, you need to be aware of your rights. This guide can help you through the process.
Call the police: If you are involved in a hit-and-run, call the authorities immediately. Leaving the scene of an accident can be considered a serious crime, and the police must be involved.
Do you have witnesses? If there are witnesses, you might be able to track down the driver through a vehicle description or license plate. Make sure you take down as much information as possible from the witn3esses, and get the police involved.
Write down everything: Take notes, write down all of your recollections and get everything you can on paper. Your memory could be fuzzy later on, particularly if you were in the car during the accident. Document as much as you can, because you could need it at a later date.
Know your legal rights: Depending on the situation of the accident, if you track down the driver you could have rights to sue in civil court or in small-claims court. You might need to consult an attorney.
Know your insurance coverage: Do you have a comprehensive and collision policy (also known as full-coverage)? If so, you should be covered by a hit-and-run, even if it's a simple fender bender that takes place in a parking lot. But if you have only liability coverage (otherwise known as minimum insurance) you probably won't be protected by auto insurance.
What about uninsured motorist protection? If you are able to track down the driver of the car, you might find out that he/she doesn't have insurance (which was why they fled the scene of the accident). If this is the case, and if you do not have uninsured motorist protection, you might not be protected at all for the accident.
Other legal issues: There are a number of legal issues and insurance regulations involved with hit-and-run accidents. You might be eligible for some funds from your car insurance policy, but not others because of your pursuit of civil clams. Make sure you ask questions, document every stage of the process and remain in contact with the police. You have to be your biggest advocate, so make sure you're prepared for any possibility.
