What happens if you are the victim of a hit and run?

If a driver causes a hit-an-run accident and flees the scene, they are making a serious mistake. A hit and run is simply disappearing from the scene of an accident.

After these hit-and-run accidents, where someone flees the scene, the injured people present a picture of frustration and helplessness for not being able to know what has happened and who has caused it. These accidents often occur when someone recklessly fails to stop, runs a red light, or hits another vehicle from behind.

If this situation should happen to you, you should consider the following.

Should you chase the other vehicle?

The instinct of a driver who is the victim of a hit and run is to chase the other vehicle; however, it is not advisable. It is better, for purposes of safety, to remain at the scene of the accident. A chase could trigger more accidents and injuries. A hit-and-run driver can pose a danger to your safety and that of others. What you should do, without fail, is to call the police, so they can file the corresponding report, a document which you can then use to take legal action against the hit-and-run driver.

What information should you obtain at the time of the accident?

The first recommendation is to take note of all the details immediately. For example, what was the vehicle’s make, model and color, and did it have an identifying element, such as a decal? Also, record any license plate number. This information can be easily forgotten, but if you write it down at once, it will be essential in order to locate the other vehicle. You should also keep in mind where the other vehicle went and how many people were in it.

Witnesses are essential. So you should get the name, phone number and email, if possible, of anyone who might have witnessed the accident. In these cases, anyone can be an important witness in solving the case, so don’t rule anyone out. You must keep this information but also provide it to the police. Finally, you must take photographs and videos of the scene of the accident, the position of your vehicle and the damage caused by the driver who hit you and fled the scene.

Take these images from several different angles so that your lawyer or the authorities have a complete picture of how and under what circumstances the vehicle accident occurred. Don’t forget to record nearby traffic signs, for example, if the other driver missed a stop, take a video or photo of that sign. This evidence will also help to identify security cameras at the scene in order to obtain the license plate or characteristics of the hit-and-run vehicle.

This article was translated from the original version published by Abogados Centro Legal: https://abogadoscentrolegal.com/en/2020/06/11/que-sucede-si-alguien-te-choca-y-huye/