Should You Chase a Hit-and-Run Driver?

If you are involved in a car accident and the other driver speeds away, you may be tempted to follow them so they don’t get away. But you should never chase another driver after an accident. Chasing after the hit-and-run driver can be very dangerous.

In most cases, drivers who are involved in an accident are required to stop at the scene of the accident to exchange contact information. Accident reporting laws vary by state, so you should talk to a car accident attorney in your area for more information about your legal rights after a hit-and-run car accident.

What Is a Hit-and-Run Accident?

A hit-and-run accident involves a driver hitting a pedestrian, another car, or someone else’s property, and driving away without stopping to give their contact information or car insurance details. Many hit-and-run accidents involve another driver hitting a parked car and driving off because they think they don’t have to or because there are no witnesses. Common reasons why drivers leave the scene of an accident include:

• The driver has a suspended license or no license
• The driver does not have insurance
• The driver is under the influence and does not want to get a DUI
• The driver has an arrest warrant
• The vehicle is stolen

What To Do After a Car Accident

In most states, the driver has an obligation to stop at the scene of a car accident and share their contact and insurance information with others involved in the accident. If the hit and run involved a parked car in a parking lot or property damage, the driver may be required to leave a note with their contact information.

Even if the car crash seems to involve no damage, drivers should stop. Drivers may also be required to file an accident report with their local department of motor vehicles (DMV) or law enforcement within a certain amount of time.

Driving away from an accident without stopping is a crime. If a car accident involves serious injury or death, a hit and run can be a felony crime. For example, in Louisiana, the intentional failure of a driver to stop at the scene of an accident involving serious bodily injury is a felony offense, punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment.

Risks of Chasing Another Driver

It may be tempting to chase after a hit-and-run driver to make sure they don’t get away. However, there are some serious safety issues involved with chasing after another driver, including:

• Facing reckless driving charges
• Causing another car accident
• Leaving the scene of an accident charges
• Not qualifying for collision coverage
• Injury or attack by the other driver
• Failing to get medical treatment for injuries

If you suffer a personal injury after a car accident, you should get medical attention right away. There may be delayed symptoms of an injury after a car accident. Call 911 if you or a passenger are injured. Your health and safety are more important than tracking down the other driver.

What Should You Do After a Hit-and-Run Accident?

The best thing you can do after a hit-and-run accident is report it to the police and let the insurance companies take care of things. In addition, the following are tips for other steps to take:

• Take photos of the damage to your car and the accident scene.
• Write down an account of what happened while the details are fresh.
• Note details like cross streets, descriptions of involved vehicles and their license plate numbers, descriptions of other drivers and passengers, the time of day, and weather conditions.
• If possible, talk to witnesses to see if anyone saw the accident.
• File a police report.

Hit-and-Run Claims

You might be able to file an insurance claim if you have coverage for hit-and-run accidents, which will depend on the type of policy you have. If you have collision coverage, your insurance provider should pay the costs of repair or vehicle replacement, even if the other driver isn’t found. If you are injured, uninsured motorist coverage or underinsured driver coverage (UM/UIM) can help you cover medical bills and other damages.

If the driver is found, you can call a personal injury law firm to file a personal injury claim against the other driver. A personal injury claim can help you get money for lost income, property damage, and medical care. Find a local car accident lawyer for help after a hit-and-run accident.