Any time a Georgia driver gets involved in a car accident, that driver should stop, exchange insurance information with the other party, and, if needed, report the accident and wait for the police to arrive. Unfortunately, sometimes, drivers may rush away from the scene of the accident without taking the time to report it or to share vital contact information.
What should you do next?
Why Drivers Flee the Scene of an Accident
Drivers may flee the scene of a car accident for a number of reasons.
They may not carry auto insurance. An estimated 12.4% of Georgia drivers do not carry auto insurance on their vehicles.
They fear the insurance increase.
They fear the other legal consequences that may go along with an auto accident, especially if the accident occurred due to inebriation.
You cannot force another driver to stop at the scene of an accident. However, you can take necessary steps to protect yourself.
What to Do After a Hit and Run in Georgia
Whether you suffered injuries in a Georgia hit and run as a driver or passenger in another vehicle, a pedestrian, or a cyclist, you may need to take responsibility immediately to reduce further risks and make sure you can get compensation for your injuries, if possible.
1. Immediately report the accident to the Atlanta police.
Make sure you report the accident immediately. If you do not need emergency medical care, remain at the scene of the accident until the police arrive. By reporting the accident, you help create a record of it and increase the odds that you will get the support you need. In some cases, the police may also find the driver that caused your accident, which can prove critical to your future claim. Report anything you can remember about the accident, including the make and model of the vehicle that hit you and any identifying information about the driver, to the police. If you did manage to get a partial or full license plate number, that information can also help the police identify who caused your accident.
Check with the officer that responds to the accident to see how long it may take to get a copy of the accident report. Once the accident report comes available, get a copy and review it for accuracy.
Georgia law does have strict penalties for drivers who run after an accident. They may be assigned a “habitual violator” status, which can lead to license suspension or revocation.
2. Seek medical attention for any injuries you may have sustained.
Even if you think that you did not suffer injuries in the collision, you may still want a doctor to look you over. In many cases, adrenaline from the accident can obscure the pain you would normally feel, causing you to miss the symptoms of even serious injuries. Furthermore, the symptoms of some types of injuries may not show up immediately after the accident, but may start showing themselves quickly over time.
A doctor can evaluate your injuries and make sure you get the treatment you may need. Not only that, a record of immediate medical attention after the accident can help establish when your injuries occurred. That record can make it much easier for you to later file an injury claim.
3. Talk to a lawyer about your potential right to compensation.
When you have the chance, talk to a lawyer about your Georgia hit and run accident. A Georgia hit and run accident lawyer can help provide you with essential insights into how you can best pursue compensation for your losses.
If the police identify the driver that caused your hit and run, you have the right to pursue compensation from that driver or that driver’s insurance company. A lawyer can help review that policy and provide you with more information about the compensation you might reasonably expect for your injuries.
On the other hand, even if the police do not identify the driver that caused your hit and run, you may still have the right to compensation for some of the losses you may have sustained.
Your lawyer can review the cause of the accident and identify any other factors that may have contributed to it.
Sometimes, you may clearly identify an outside factor or third party that may have contributed to the accident and your injuries. While that party may not bear full liability, you may have the right to pursue some compensation through the insurance policy that covers the liable party.
You may have the right to pursue compensation through your own insurance policy.
Consider your own auto insurance policy. Do you have full coverage, collision, or comprehensive coverage? Do you have uninsured motorist coverage on your vehicle? If so, you may have the right to use that coverage to take care of some of the damages associated with your hit and run accident. A Georgia hit and run accident lawyer can help review your policy and give you a better idea of how much compensation you should expect for your injuries, based on the specific terms of your policy.
In general, if you carry carry uninsured motorist coverage in any form, that coverage will provide the same compensation to you that you could recover if you suffered injuries in an accident with another driver. By checking your coverage, your lawyer can help you decide how to best get the benefits and compensation you need.
4. Keep up with your medical care.
As you wait for a resolution to your hit and run claim, make sure you keep up with your medical needs. As the injured party, you may need to show that you have done what was necessary to ensure that you made as full a recovery as possible.
Contact a Hit and Run Accident Lawyer Today
Did you suffer injuries in a hit and run accident? Need to know more about your right to compensation? Contact Cambre & Associates today to learn more about your rights and how you can seek compensation.
