Does car insurance help if you are the victim of a hit and run accident?

Unfortunately, hit and run news is on the radar from time to time. A pedestrian or car driver is hit by a vehicle and the driver responsible for the accident accelerates without acknowledging their actions by monitoring the victims and providing their contact information to the police.

What defines a hit and run accident?

A hit-and-run incident occurs when a driver collides with a person or a car and intentionally drives to avoid prosecution or liability for the resulting death, injury, and / or damage.

If you become the victim of a hit-and-run accident, never chase the fleeing car. You may find yourself in a road rage incident or something similar. Leave the chase to cops trained in this kind of thing. What you need to do immediately after the accident is alert law enforcement.

For your sake, gather as much information as you can about the event. This will help the police to catch the driver who hit you. It will also increase the chances that your submitted insurance claim will be processed for your benefit.
Here’s what insurance underwriters tell hit-and-run accident victims.

As stated, the more information you gather about the case, the more chance it will end up to your advantage.

Inform the authorities about the facts by providing the following:

• The make and model of the other car or vehicle
• The license plate number of the other car
• How to contact the people who witnessed the accident
• The time and place when and where the accident occurred.
• Pictures taken of your car immediately after the collision. (Leftover paint from the other car on your vehicle will help authorities locate the other driver and set charges, as it will help the insurance company determine a good outcome for your claim)
• Doctor’s report of any injuries you or your passengers suffered as a result of the accident.

If the driver who crashed into you and left without accepting responsibility is caught, you can file a car claim directly with your insurance company. But if the other driver has insufficient or no insurance coverage, you may want to use the services of an attorney.

Another way to go is your own insurance coverage. If the hit and run driver does not have adequate insurance to cover his losses, he can file a claim with his insurance company. States differ in policy when it comes to the claims process, so you will have to do the research. Generally speaking, if you have uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage, you will be covered for medical bills and if you have uninsured motorist property damage insurance, you will be covered for related auto repair jobs.

Although there are several states in the US that do not cover you with these forms of insurance, they should cover you if you have personal injury protection coverage, as well as medical payments insurance and collision coverage.

Of course, it’s best to speak with an independent insurance agent who has experience with these types of claims, so be sure to connect with a trusted source!