No matter a driver's reasons for leaving the scene of an accident, you, the victim, are still left high and dry without compensation to help you pay for your injuries or to fix the vehicle's damage. On the other hand, there still are many options for legal recourse and compensation.
Not only is it wrong to leave the scene of an accident, but it is also illegal in the state of Arizona and can result in criminal charges. However, hit and run accidents unfortunately still occur on a frequent basis, regardless of the consequences. Many drivers that commit this offense may be unlicensed or uninsured, impaired, or have an outstanding arrest warrant. If you are the victim of a hit and run accident, bear in mind the following tips:
Watch to see where the driver goes, but do not pursue them. Neither you nor your vehicle may be in any condition to drive after an accident, and leaving the scene to chase the other driver if they choose to flee is both dangerous for you as well as other vehicles on the road. Stay at the scene of the accident so that police officers can gather the evidence necessary to determine what happened, with the hopes of finding the responsible party based on your information.
Take note of the vehicle's appearance. If possible, memorize the license plate number, model, make and color of the offending vehicle. Try to remember any damage to the other vehicle and the general direction they took after the accident.
Notify the authorities as soon as possible and remember to make a police report. If you act quickly, the police may be able to find the driver within a close radius of where the accident occurred.
See a doctor! Even if you feel unharmed, it is best to visit a medical caregiver to assess any injuries you may have sustained in an accident. This is especially true if the collision was forceful enough to deploy your airbags or cause you to suffer whiplash.
Contact your insurance provider. In some cases, a hit and run accident will be treated like you were hit by an uninsured motorist, so stay on top of your provider to make sure that they take care of your claim. After all, this is exactly what you pay for when you purchase insurance with an uninsured driver policy in the first place.
Hire an experienced attorney. If you feel that you are not being treated fairly by your insurance provider, an attorney can step in on your behalf to make sure that you are compensated for the negligent actions of the driver at fault.
