Hit and run accidents are very common. An amazing number of drivers speed off after colliding with another vehicle. If you are the victim of a hit and run accident, what should you do?

This Low-Cost Legal guide gives you steps 5 steps to take when involved in a hit and run accident.

Assess the need for medical help

If you or anyone in your car is injured, getting medical treatment is the first thing to consider. If you have a cell phone, call 911 and seek help. If possible, drive to the side of the road, but do not drive to seek medical care. It is usually best to wait for medical help to come to you, but this will really depend on the injury and where you are at.

If you and others are not injured, the next step is to document everything that happened

After driving your car onto the shoulder of the road or into a nearby parking lot. You may be tempted to speed after the other vehicle, but this will put you and others at further risk. Call the police, and while you are waiting for them, write down key information. If you were able to get a full or partial license number, that would be helpful for the police. However, it’s rare that a victim is able to obtain a license plate number as everything usually happens so fast. Try to take note of the car’s color, model, distinguishing characteristics and anything else you remember.

If any witness stops to help, ask them to give you all the details they remember

Ask them to stay long enough to give a statement to police. If they’re willing to give you their name and phone number, take it down for future reference. They might be more comfortable giving their information to the police, and that is fine too.

When police arrive, be completely cooperative

The police officer will want to know what direction you were going, how fast you were going, what lane you were in, where the other driver was and how the accident occurred.

Don’t leave the scene until you are cleared to do so

Once the police officer has cleared you to leave the scene, drive home or have your vehicle towed away if it is severely damaged. When home, call your insurance company to begin the process of filing an insurance claim if you plan to make one. This is especially important if you are injured. Your insurance company may pay for medical care not covered by your health insurance provider.

If the other driver can be identified, and you’ve experienced significant financial loss, trauma, pain or distress as a result of the accident, then you may want to talk with a vehicle accident attorney who can seek damages for you.

If you need low-cost legal help, many personal injury lawyers and litigation lawyers will provide low-cost legal help or free legal help. They will defer payment until the time you settle or win a judgment. Typically, attorneys offering low-cost legal aid will take the case on contingency if you agree to pay them one-third of the money your receive plus fees.

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