You were doing what you were supposed to do, driving carefully and following all the traffic rules. Then suddenly, someone crashed into you and then took off without taking responsibility. You’ve been the victim of a hit-and-run driver. What do you do now?
The good news is that you can still recover compensation for your damages. Below, we help you understand your next steps after an accident like this. Know that you can always call our Virginia Beach personal injury attorneys for help. Hit-and-run accidents can be complex, and we can help negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf so you can focus on recovering from your injuries.
Put Your Health and Safety First
Your first thought after a hit-and-run accident should always be your health and the health of others involved in the crash. Seek medical attention right away if you need to. Even if you think you’re okay, check with your doctor as soon as you can. Some injuries, like concussions and whiplash, don’t show up immediately. Rather, they get worse over time. Going to the doctor ensures that you have a medical record of your injuries when you file your claim.
After calling for medical help, move to a safe location away from traffic if you can.
Report the Incident to the Police
Once you and others in the accident are safe, report the incident to the police. A hit-and-run is a criminal offense, and filing a police report is essential. Be as detailed as you can when describing what happened. Try to include these details:
- The time, date, and location of the crash.
- What the fleeing vehicle looked like (make, model, color, license plate number if you know it, and any other details you can remember).
- What the driver or passengers in the fleeing vehicle looked like.
- Which direction the car went after it hit you.
If there were witnesses to the accident, try to get their contact information and give it to the police, as well.
Contact Your Insurance Company
The next step is to contact your insurance company and inform them about the accident. Most insurance companies require that you inform them about the accident quickly in order to receive coverage. Give them the police report number and the details of the accident.
Insurance Coverage for a Hit-and-Run Accident
Usually, after an accident, you would bring a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company. But in a hit-and-run, you don’t know who that at-fault driver was.
In that case, your only option is to seek coverage from your own insurance policy. Depending on your particular policy, your uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) coverage can provide financial relief. This type of coverage protects you in situations where the at-fault driver is either uninsured, underinsured, or unidentified, as would be the case in a hit-and-run.
UM/UIM coverage typically compensates you for medical bills related to your injuries, lost wages if you can’t work after the accident, pain and suffering, and property damage. (See your policy for details.)
Some accident victims worry that if they file a claim with their own UM/UIM insurance, that will lead to higher premiums. This type of coverage, however, acknowledges that you were not at fault for the accident, which means insurers can’t increase your rates.
How a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help
Your insurance policy likely provides protection after a hit-and-run, but negotiating with them on your own can be overwhelming, especially if you’re trying to recover from your injuries at the same time.
At Shapiro, Washburn, and Sharp, we can assist you by investigating the accident, reviewing the evidence, interviewing witnesses, and more, all to maximize your claim. We can help review your policy to ensure you receive all the benefits you’re entitled to and will handle the negotiations with your insurance company. If the at-fault driver is eventually identified, we can also help you file a personal injury lawsuit against them.
With the right support, you can put your life back together, as did this client who suffered back and neck injuries—as well as a concussion—after a car accident. We helped negotiate a $235,000 settlement of her claim.
Contact us today for a free initial consultation. We have offices in Virginia Beach, Hampton, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, and Norfolk.