No matter how minor a car accident is, it is likely that becoming involved in one is not a daily goal. However, the situation becomes much more stressful when the other car involved in your accident decides to speed away from the scene.
The good news is that dealing with hit-and-run accidents is not terribly different than dealing with the regular variety. According to State Farm Auto Insurance, you should stay at the scene of the accident and make sure to talk with any eyewitnesses.
Stay where you are
No doubt, watching the culprit flee the scene may enrage you. However, giving chase after him or her is never a good idea. It will confuse eyewitnesses to see both cars speeding away in pursuit of each other and complicate the situation.
Instead, observe standard protocol. If anybody at the scene of the accident requires medical attention, call 911. If nobody’s sustained a serious injury, call the non-emergency police number and file a police report. This will make dealing with your insurance in the aftermath of the accident much easier.
Talk to eyewitnesses
Eyewitnesses are important in hit-and-run accidents. It is possible that a savvy eyewitness noticed that one of the cars involved in the accident was speeding away. Many people have cell phones, and that eyewitnesses may have taken photos or video evidence of the culprit. If so, this will make locating the culprit easier for the police.
Even if not, it is possible that the eyewitnesses were able to make better notes of the car’s make and model than you were. They can help the police locate the person who drove away from the scene of the accident.
