Hit and run accidents are a major problem in our country. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 2,932 fatalities in traffic crashes involving hit-and-run drivers in 2022. As a Kansas City personal injury lawyer, I have handled hundreds of hit and run cases. In my experience, they are some of the most damaging. Not only are you injured in a car crash, but the responsible party fled the scene. It’s like salt in the wound. That’s why I wrote this blog: to help if you’re ever involved in a hit and run accident.
Call the Police and Insist on a Report
A police report will have basic information you can use to prove your case. Sometimes, however, police are reluctant, or even refuse, to come to the scene of a hit and run accident. Try to convince them to come to the scene to write a report by telling them you’ll need it to make a claim. If they won’t come to the scene, go to the police station and ask them to write up a report.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
If you have been hurt, seek medical attention. Be sure to follow the doctor’s instructions, including seeing a specialist or attending therapy. The nature and extent of your injuries and damages are the primary driver of case value. Medical records are often the best way to show this.
Find and Preserve Crucial Evidence
Take pictures and videos of the damage to your car and your injuries and preserve them. Check to see if your car has an event data recorder and, if so, try to get a download of the data from the crash. If there were witnesses, be sure to get their contact information and a statement. You may need to use this evidence to prove your case if your insurance refuses to pay.
Contact a Kansas City Hit and Run Accident Attorney
These are but a few things I recommend you do if you’ve been involved in a hit and run accident. We are hit and run accident attorneys here at my firm and we take cases all throughout Missouri and Kansas. Please contact MRH Law if you’ve been in a hit and run accident.