Hit and Run Crashes: What to Do if the Other Driver Leaves the Scene of the Accident

Imagine you’re driving around town, running errands or heading to pick up your kids from school, when another driver crashes into your vehicle. It’s a scary experience, and you expect that the driver who hit you will pull to the side of the road or into a parking lot to make sure everyone is safe and exchange information.

All of a sudden, however, they’re pulling away from the scene— and it doesn’t look like they’re coming back. You’ve just been involved in a hit-and-run accident—traffic crashes where one or more of the drivers involved in the crash breaks the law by fleeing the scene.

In this blog, we discuss hit and run crashes and what to do if the other driver leaves the scene of the accident.

Car Crashes in Alabama and Mississippi Cause Serious Problems

Hit and run crashes are very serious and far more common in Alabama and Mississippi than you might realize. In fact, car accidents in general are surprisingly common here.

In 2019, a traffic crash was reported in Alabama every three minutes and 18 seconds, according to Drive Safe Alabama. Mississippi also has traffic safety problems: With the exception of three years, the state has recorded the most traffic fatalities every year since 1999. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 690 people died in Mississippi car accidents between in 2016 alone.

Alabama and Mississippi Laws Around Hit and Run Crashes

Tracking down fleeing drivers makes hit and run accidents especially difficult for the person they hit and the authorities. Many drivers flee from the scene of an accident because they’re afraid of the consequences of their actions. Others might have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash and fled to avoid being placed under arrest and charged with a crime. In rare instances, the fleeing driver might be disoriented or confused about what just happened and left without any ill intentions.

If you are involved in a hit-and-run accident, here are five things you should do to stay safe and gather evidence for a potential legal claim.

1. The first thing you should do is seek medical attention, whether or not you think you need it. Your well-being and that of your friends and family should be your top priority.
2. Attempt to collect as much evidence as you safely can. If you are safe and healthy after the hit and run crash, ask all witnesses for their contact information and take photos of the scene, damaged property, and any injuries you sustained.
3. Always report the hit and run crash to the proper authorities. Thorough documentation by the proper authorities (police, first responders, and medical professionals) is critical and could result in civil or criminal charges against the fleeing driver.
4. Pause or take down your social media profiles. Insurance companies and their attorneys will use these accounts against you in trying to prove you’re lying about or exaggerating any injuries you’ve suffered.
5. Be sure to consult a qualified personal injury attorney, like the team at Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys. Hit and run accidents are often difficult to process, and qualified legal representation can make all the difference in your case.

RELATED: I Just Had a Car Crash—what Do I Do Now?

Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys Have Your Back

If you or a loved one has been injured by a reckless or negligent individual in Mobile, throughout Alabama, and Mississippi, the Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys team is ready to get to work on your behalf. Our team can quickly gather relevant evidence, depose experts and eyewitnesses, and deliver a compelling case to help you receive the best possible settlement and compensation for your injuries and pain and suffering. We’re proud to serve our friends and neighbors in Mobile, Alabama, Montgomery, Foley, and Daphne, as well as Pascagoula, Mississippi.

Our law firm has helped hundreds of individuals who have been injured in hit and run accidents. For example, Ashley was on a motorcycle trip to the country with his family when he was struck by a drunk driver at 85 miles per hour. Our team of skilled and experienced lawyers and legal professionals investigated the hit and run and were able to recover a sizable amount for Ashley and his family.

For a free consultation, please call 251-888-8888 or complete this brief form today.

We look forward to hearing from you!

References

Drive Safe Alabama. (2019). Serious Stats. Retrieved from https://drivesafealabama.org/serious-stats/

Mississippi Department of Transportation. (2020). Facts and Stats. Retrieved from https://mdot.ms.gov/safetyeducation/parents/facts-and-stats/

The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.