Tom's Blog
Early one morning you are stopped at a red light when suddenly somebody hits you from behind. You immediately open your door to get out of the vehicle to inspect your car and speak with the negligent driver, when suddenly you see the other person place their car in reverse and quickly speed away. You are undeniably shocked to realize someone could just hit your car and leave, but don’t be astounded…it happens all the time! Knowing what to do after a hit and run accident won’t make it any easier, but you may be able to locate that person down the road.
And Suddenly They Were Gone…
Hit and run accidents are reported on the average of once/day, which is not an encouraging statistic, but know that you are not alone. However, if this happens to you, there are ways you can try to investigate to find out who that “someone” is.
First of all, look around to see if there are any witnesses who may have seen what happened or gotten a license plate. Details are critical in this type of situation such as paying attention to the make, model, color of vehicle, along with the license plate.
Also, look around for any types of surveillance cameras in the area. Sometimes, stoplights have cameras attached to them. If a hit and run happens in a parking lot, check to see if there are video cameras that could have picked up details of the incident. If a surveillance camera taped your accident, the video could help the local authorities in finding the at-fault driver. Keep in mind, though, that video surveillance tapes run for 24 hours and will tape over the previous day so being pro active to ascertain that video is crucial.
Next, you should notify your local N.C. police about the hit and run accident to document accident details, damages, dates and any descriptions you or witnesses may have. This will be important should you make an uninsured motorist claim with your N.C. auto insurance company. Most N.C. automobile insurance policies require a filed police report before UM coverage would apply.
Finally, call your local N.C. independent insurance agent to report your loss and from there they will assist you with your next step in the claim handling process. An adjuster should typically be in touch with you within 24 hours of the claim being filed.
Bad things happen to good people all the time, so if you are involved in a hit and run accident, you will NOW have a good idea on how to handle the situation. Think quickly and pay attention to details and you may just find the person who left you standing alone to handle the damages THEY caused. Contact our office at 866-869-3335 with any questions regarding hit and run accidents.
