10/15/2026
If you have been involved in a hit and run, take these immediate and essential steps to ensure your safety and protect your rights:
Safety First
Do not chase or follow the fleeing vehicle. Leaving the scene can put you in danger and complicate legal or insurance proceedings.
1. Ensure Safety and Call Emergency Services
• Check for injuries: Assess yourself, your passengers, and anyone else involved. If anyone is injured, call 911 immediately.
• Move to a safe spot: If your vehicle is in a dangerous position and still drivable, move it safely to the shoulder or a nearby parking lot. Turn on your hazard lights.
• Report the incident: Call local police to report the hit and run. A formal police report is required for insurance claims and any criminal investigation.
2. Document the Fleeing Vehicle & Scene
Write down or record everything you can remember while it is still fresh:
• Vehicle details: Make, model, color, license plate number (even a partial plate helps), or any distinguishing features (dents, stickers, roof rack).
• Driver description: Any details about the driver's appearance.
• Direction of travel: Which way the vehicle fled.
• Scene details: Exact location, time, weather conditions, and photos of damage to your car, paint transfers, debris, and the surrounding area.
3. Identify Witnesses & Look for Surveillance
• Talk to bystanders: Ask witnesses if they saw what happened. Collect their names and contact information.
• Check for cameras: Look around for nearby cameras (dashcams from other parked cars, security cameras on local businesses, or traffic cameras) and note their locations for the police.
4. Notify Your Insurance & Seek Medical Attention
• File an insurance claim: Contact your auto insurance company as soon as possible. Hit-and-run coverage usually falls under Uninsured Motorist Property Damage (UMPD) or Collision coverage.
• Get checked by a doctor: Even if you feel fine initially, symptoms of injuries like whiplash or soft-tissue damage can appear hours or days later. Prompt medical documentation is critical for any insurance claim.
