Even though it is illegal to flee the scene of an accident, it continues to happen throughout Ohio and the rest of the nation. That is why you need to know the steps to take to protect your legal rights in case you are a victim of this type of accident.
Here at O’Connor, Acciani & Levy, our goal is to investigate and prepare your claim to seek maximum compensation for your injuries. During a free consultation with one of our Cincinnati car accident attorneys, we will review your case and explain the steps we may be able to take to try to obtain compensation for your claim.
1. Watch The Other Car
Your main priority in the moments after the crash is to watch the car as it flees the scene. Write down as much information as you can about the car and the driver, such as:
- The color, make, model and license plate number of the vehicle
- The driver’s physical description (sex, race, possible age, hair color, etc.) and any other identifying features
- The direction the other car was headed and physical damage to the vehicle
If possible, pull out your smartphone and take pictures or video of the car as it races away. Later, you can watch the video and you might notice some things that you missed as you watched the car leave.
2. Talk To Any Witnesses
If you find people who saw the accident, ask them for a brief description of what they saw. It is possible that they saw things you missed. Ask any witnesses you speak with for their contact information as well. This way your attorney can contact them if they have questions or want more information.
3. Take Pictures Of The Scene
Make sure to take a lot of pictures from different angles documenting the damage to your vehicle. You should also take pictures of any visible injuries. Your description of your injuries can be valuable but it is usually not as compelling as pictures can be.
4. Contact Law Enforcement
An officer will be dispatched and complete an accident report that you will need to substantiate your claim. Make sure to provide the officer with all of the information you have collected, including pictures and written descriptions of your injuries and the other car and its driver.
The police can use information about the car to try to track it down. In some cases, tracking down the other driver may be the only way to obtain compensation, particularly if you do not have insurance coverage for hit-and-run accidents.
5. Seek Medical Treatment
A qualified doctor is necessary even if symptoms do not appear immediately. The doctor can diagnose and begin treating all of your injuries. He or she will document this in your medical record, which is another crucial piece of evidence in your accident claim.
6. File An Insurance Claim
If the police are able to locate the other driver, and this person has car insurance, you may be able to file an insurance claim with his or her insurance company.
If you are not able to locate the other driver, you may be able to obtain compensation from your insurance policy’s uninsured motorist coverage. If you do not have this coverage, you could obtain compensation from your collision or medical payments coverage.
Contact A Cincinnati Auto Accident Lawyer
If you were injured in a hit-and-run crash, contact our experienced attorneys for a free consultation. We may be able to obtain compensation through a car insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.
We have many years of combined experience obtaining compensation for victims of many types of car accidents. We have a detailed understanding of the legal process and the laws that apply to these cases.
Your consultation with our attorneys is completely free and you will not be charged unless we recover fair compensation.