Stopping and sharing your information with others is typical when involved in a vehicular accident. Even if you hit a vacant car, you must stop and leave your information. If someone does not do this, they are committing a hit-and-run.
Despite the laws preventing these accidents, they still happen. Drivers caught performing these acts face stiff fines. That said, you could still face this type of accident and need to know what to do in this situation.
Understand the situation
Under the umbrella of a hit-and-run accident, you will find several types. These include accidents resulting in:
- Death or serious injuries
- Minor injuries
- Property damage
Ultimately, anything is a hit-and-run if the driver leaves the scene without providing their information and help to your injured passengers.
Get to safety
Push or drive your vehicle to the side of the road. See if you or your passengers have injuries. The shock you feel in an accident will dull the pain for a short while, so be thorough. Take a quick scan and see if you need an ambulance.
Call the police
Call the police. That dramatically improves your chances of locating the driver. It also generates a police report, which will help you get funds from your insurance company.
Now that you know what to do, you probably wonder if your insurance will cover a hit-and-run. Most car insurance policies do cover this type of accident. In addition, it can help offset the medical care that you and your passengers need due to a hit-and-run.