It can be one of the worst accidents you will encounter in your lifetime.
That said what steps do you need to take when you’ve been in a hit-and-run accident?
From your health to the health of your vehicle and more, there is much to think about in such a situation.
So, how might a hit-and-run accident change your life?
Your Health Matters Most
In assessing your situation following a hit-and-run, keep the following in mind:
- Your health – How you are doing physically after such an accident is most important. Keep in mind that not all injuries will show up right after a hit-and-run. From concussions to internal injuries, you should get checked out by medical personnel. This is true even if you think you are fine. If you suffer serious injuries in such an event, make sure you get treatment as soon as possible. There may be a tendency to want to go after the driver responsible for the accident. While that is not uncommon, your health takes center stage. By focusing on your health and getting treatments needed, you are in better shape to follow up on the event.
- Your investigation – If you did not suffer serious injuries, start the investigation. You need to know who is responsible for the accident. One of the ways to go about this is by turning to the Internet. If you or someone at the scene was able to get license plate info of the vehicle that hit you, go online and research. You can proceed with a car plate search. That search allows you to move closer to finding out who was behind the wheel. There are many different reasons drivers will flee the scene of an accident. To you, the reason is probably not that important. The bottom line is you want to find the person and make sure they’re held responsible. In a reverse license plate search, you can get details more times than not on the vehicle that hit you and the driver. At the end of the day, tracking down the person responsible for your suffering is worth it. If there were one or more witnesses at the scene, were you able to get their information? Doing so can prove quite important in the investigation process. You might also look to any video cameras that may have been in the area.
- Your vehicle – Finally, what shape is your vehicle in now? It may come down to having to get a new car or truck to replace the one you’ve been driving. Make sure you get a full assessment of its condition from your claims specialist. Of most importance is that the vehicle is fit to drive on the roads. If it is not, holding the person who hit you responsible takes on even more importance. A hit-and-run can range from everything from a little tap to your vehicle to a serious accident. Last, if you are getting legal counsel to represent you, be sure you work with them to get the best outcome. Never sign off on anything from an insurance company before your legal team has had chance to look at it. If the hit-and-run driver is caught, their insurance provider may try and get you to settle fast. This is the worst thing you could do. Always make sure your best interests are in play.
When you have been in a hit-and-run accident and you are the victim, will it change your life?
