What Do I Do If I am the Victim of a Hit and Run?

Drivers who leave the scene of an accident are committing a criminal act that leaves the victim dazed, in shock, and oftentimes, with serious injuries, especially if it is a hit-and-run involving a pedestrian or bicyclist. A driver may flee the scene of an accident because they were under the influence of drugs or alcohol, driving without a license or insurance, or they simply want to avoid taking responsibility for their negligent actions.

If you’ve been the victim of a hit-and-run driver, you may be left wondering what to do next, what your legal options are, and whether you can find some semblance of justice.

Here’s what to do if you’ve been the victim of a hit-and-run:

File a Police Report

Your first step after a hit-and-run is to report the criminal behavior. Police may be able to track down important information or clues in order to identify the hit-and-run driver.

It is important that you try to remember as many details about the accident as possible. Being able to provide the vehicle model, color of the car, a description of the driver, a partial license plate, identifying bumper stickers, or any other unique details may serve useful in identifying the driver.

Ultimately, a police report will also prove crucial to any additional steps that you will need to make in terms of receiving justice for their actions or seeking compensation.

Seek Medical Attention

Even if your injuries appear to be relatively minor, you should seek out prompt medical care following a hit-and-run incident. Sometimes what appear to be minor aches and pains are actually much more serious medical complications that need to be addressed.

Document the Damage

If the hit-and-run involved your vehicle or a bicycle, you should be sure to take photographic documentation of the ensuing damage. Likewise, you should also document with photos any physical damage suffered to you as an individual, which means taking pictures of casts, slings, neck braces, cuts, or lacerations.

Get Legal Help

Finally, if you’ve been the victim of a hit-and-run, you should seek out the counsel of an experienced auto accident attorney who has handled these types of cases. Having a lawyer on your side, representing your best interests, and fighting for you can make these difficult times much more manageable. Victims of a hit-and-run often feel like their world has been flipped upside down with this unexpected stroke of terrible luck but getting legal representation can help ensure that you are exercising all of your legal rights and resources in terms of identifying the at-fault party or identifying other avenues for compensation, such as seeking coverage from your own auto or medical insurance for the ensuing bills if the at-fault party cannot be found.

Being injured in a hit-and-run is a traumatic event, which is why you need the help of the team at Greenberg & Stein to get your life back on track. Our team has substantial experience with hit-and-run accidents in New York City and we will fight to ensure that you receive justice for the negligent actions of someone else. While every hit-and-run case is different, you can be assured that our award winning legal representation is here to help you through this difficult time. If you’ve been injured in a hit-and-run accident, it is important that you speak immediately with a team of qualified professionals who can ensure you receive the compensation necessary to cover hospital bills, lost wages, and other damages.

We offer a free consultation and a 24-hour phone line, so don’t hesitate to call us if you are in need of an auto accident attorney in New York City. Call us today at 888-411-3966 to schedule your free legal consultation.