A hit and run accident can leave you feeling like you are without options for recovering compensation for your injuries and property damages. However, that may not be the case. The first step to seeking damages after the incident is to report the collision.
Here are the steps you should take:
Call 911 From the Scene
You should report the crash to law enforcement immediately. Colorado law (C.R.S. 42-4-1606) requires drivers to report accidents involving injury or death. A prompt report also dramatically improves the odds of identifying the fleeing driver.
When you call the police dispatcher, provide everything you can recall about the vehicle:
- Make, model, and color
- Any portion of the license plate
- Direction of travel
- Visible damage to the vehicle
- A description of the driver, if you saw them
Do not chase the fleeing driver. Pursuing them puts you in danger. You should stay at the scene, get medical attention, and let law enforcement investigate the collision.
Document Everything You Can
While you wait for the police, it is important to gather evidence if you are physically able. You should photograph your vehicle, the scene, and your injuries. You can also ask witnesses for their names and contact information for corroboration of your side of the story later on.
When officers arrive, request that a police report be filed and ask for the report number. That report will become the foundation for both the criminal investigation and your insurance claim.
Notify Your Insurance Company
You should also report the hit and run to your own insurer as soon as possible. Most policies require prompt notice of accidents, and some impose specific deadlines for hit-and-run claims. Before giving any recorded statement, consider speaking with an attorney.
Recovering Compensation After a Hit and Run Crash
If the police later identify the fleeing driver, you may pursue a claim directly against them. However, most hit and run drivers lack adequate insurance resources and personal assets to pay for car accident claims. You may need to take advantage of other compensation sources.
Your uninsured motorist (UM) coverage may provide compensation after a hit and run driver flees the scene. Colorado law requires insurers to offer UM/UIM coverage with every auto policy; a hit-and-run driver who cannot be identified is treated as an uninsured driver.
If you carry UM coverage, it can step in to compensate for your:
- Medical bills and future treatment
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
Other coverages may provide additional compensation. Medical payments (MedPay) coverage may pay for your initial medical bills regardless of fault, and collision coverage can offer benefits to repair your vehicle.
However, UM claims are still insurance claims. Your own insurer can dispute the severity of your injuries or undervalue your losses, just like any other insurance company.
If you were injured in a hit and run accident, you may still have legal options. Contact Purvis Thomson, LLC to speak with an experienced Colorado car accident lawyer for a free consultation.