What to Do After a Stockton Hit and Run Accident
I’m Ed Smith, a Stockton personal injury lawyer. Drivers must thoroughly document information regarding a hit and run accident just like any other type of car accident. Having sufficient facts and evidence regarding a crash is essential when bringing a claim with your insurance provider and notifying local law enforcement. Understanding what to do after a hit and run accident is crucial in effectively addressing and handling the situation to secure your well-being.
Hit and Run Accidents in Stockton
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, approximately 2,271 injuries and fatalities occurred within Stockton due to traffic accidents in 2015, the last year for which comprehensive data is available. Of this number, about 232 were caused by a hit and run accident. Alcohol consumption was also attributable to 188 of those incidents, and 352 resulted in DUI arrests.
Gather Information
Gathering as much information as possible about a hit and run accident is crucial to have handy when filing a traffic collision report and a claim with your insurance company. Try to record the following details about the driver, car, and collision:
- Time, location and cause of the crash.
- Color, make, model and license plate number of the other vehicle.
- Area of damage sustained by the other car.
- The direction the other driver was traveling following the incident.
- Images of the damage caused to your car.
- Search for witnesses in the area and take down their names, contact information, and statements.
Stay at the Scene
If a driver crashes into you and does not make any indication of stopping, do not chase after the fleeing motorist at all costs. Leaving the scene of a car accident can leave you in a compromising position as officials could question which driver was at-fault and eyewitness statements could be lost forever.
Call Your Insurance Company
Call your insurance company promptly to report the crash. Even if the suspect motorist cannot be found, you may still be able to be compensated for your losses so long as your policy has uninsured motorist protection. This type of protection may cover reasonable and necessary medical expenses, lost earnings, and other related damages. Additionally, this coverage may protect you as a pedestrian or bicyclist in the event of a hit and run and even extend to other members of your household if they are not excluded members from the policy. Uninsured motorist property damage may also be offered by certain insurance providers to cover a small portion of damages to your vehicle.
Contact an Auto Accident Attorney
Contacting an auto accident attorney in Stockton is also critical if injuries or death incurred in a hit and run. An attorney with years of experience knows the best way of responding to a particular case in obtaining just compensation for resulting losses. The sooner you retain an attorney, the better chances you will have of tracking down an offending driver to reach a favorable outcome on your behalf.
Watch YouTube Video: What To Do If You Get Involved In A Hit and Run Accident | Car Accident. This video provides five steps on what you can do if you’re a victim of a hit and run accident.
Stockton Personal Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Stockton personal injury lawyer. Hit and run accidents can be life-changing as they often result in severe physical and mental damages to those involved. If you or a loved one has suffered serious harm in an accident caused by a hit and run driver, please feel free to reach out to me anytime for free, friendly legal advice on your situation. Contact me at (209) 227-1931 or toll-free at (800) 404-5400.
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The Million Dollar Advocates permits membership to top trial lawyers who have demonstrated a client verdict or settlement worth $1 million and over. I am proudly listed as a California member of this forum.
To learn more about my previous cases and how they were concluded, visit my Verdicts and Settlements page.
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