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Imagine you’re driving and are suddenly struck by another vehicle. You pull over to exchange insurance and contact information with the driver who struck you, but that driver speeds off instead of stopping. You do not catch their license plate in time, and likely will never run into that driver again. What do you do?
TL;DR: Hit-And-Run Accident
After a hit-and-run accident in Missouri, call the police, document the scene, gather witness information, seek medical attention, and notify your insurance company as soon as possible. Even if the fleeing driver is never identified, you may still be able to pursue compensation through your uninsured motorist coverage. Keep records related to the crash, your injuries, medical treatment, and insurance communications, and consider speaking with a Missouri hit-and-run accident attorney if you are injured or encounter problems with your claim.
Hit-and-run accidents leave victims in a uniquely difficult position. Not only are you dealing with potential injuries, vehicle damage, and the emotional toll of the crash, but you’re also facing the added challenge of an at-fault driver who can’t easily be identified or held accountable. Knowing the right steps to take immediately after a hit-and-run, and understanding your legal options under Missouri law, can make a significant difference in your ability to recover compensation and get the support you need.
Steps to Take After Being Involved in a Hit-and-Run Car Accident
The moments after a hit-and-run can feel disorienting, but the actions you take next can protect both your health and your ability to recover compensation later on. While every accident is different, there are several key steps you should take to protect yourself legally, physically, and financially.
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Step 1: Call the Police
As soon as it’s safe to do so, call the police and report the accident. Give the responding officers as detailed a description as possible of the vehicle that struck you, including its make, model, color, and any part of the license plate number you were able to see.
This information gives law enforcement the best chance of tracking down the driver responsible. The officer will also file an official police report, which becomes a critical piece of evidence for your insurance claim and any potential legal action. Try to recall and share every detail you can about how the accident happened, even small details that may seem insignificant at the time.
Step 2: Take Pictures of the Scene
If you’re able to safely do so, document the scene of the collision with your phone. Photograph the damage to your own vehicle, as well as the other vehicle if it’s still visible, along with any skid marks, debris, or road conditions that may have contributed to the crash.
These photos help establish the extent of the property damage and can be valuable evidence when filing an insurance claim or building a legal case. The more visual documentation you have, the harder it is for anyone to dispute what happened.
Step 3: Speak to Witnesses
Look around to see if anyone else witnessed the accident. Witnesses can offer an outside perspective on how the crash unfolded and may even have caught details about the fleeing vehicle that you missed, such as its direction of travel or a partial plate number.
Politely ask for their name and contact information so the police, and your attorney, can follow up with them later. Witness statements often carry significant weight, especially when the at-fault driver can’t be immediately identified.
Step 4: Get Medical Attention
Your health should always come first. Being struck by a vehicle, even at a low speed, can cause injuries that aren’t immediately obvious. Adrenaline has a way of masking pain in the minutes and hours following a crash.
Conditions like whiplash, soft tissue damage, and internal injuries can take hours or even days to fully present themselves. Getting evaluated at an emergency room or urgent care facility right away not only protects your wellbeing but also creates a medical record that ties your injuries directly to the accident, which will matter if you pursue compensation down the road.
If your injuries are severe, this step should come before all others since your health and wellbeing are most important.
Step 5: File an Insurance Claim
Once you’ve addressed your health and safety, contact your insurance company to begin the claims process as soon as possible. Missouri requires drivers to carry uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, which is specifically designed to protect you in situations like a hit-and-run where the at-fault driver can’t be located or held accountable.
Filing promptly helps ensure your claim moves forward without delay and puts you on the path toward recovering compensation for your property damage and any injuries you sustained. If you run into pushback from your insurer, an experienced attorney can help make sure you’re treated fairly.
How to Secure Compensation From a Hit-and-Run
Even though the driver who struck you might have fled the scene and cannot be found, you can still file an insurance claim through your own auto insurance. In Missouri, every auto insurance policy must include uninsured motorist coverage. This coverage applies when you are struck by a driver who does not have auto insurance or a driver who leaves the scene of the accident and is never found.
The minimum amount of uninsured motorist coverage required in Missouri is $25,000 for bodily injury, so your auto insurance should have at least this minimum coverage. You can raise your minimum coverage for uninsured motorist coverage by contacting your auto insurance company.
Key Takeaways: Hit-And-Run Accident
- Report the hit-and-run immediately. Call the police and provide everything you remember about the fleeing vehicle, including its color, make/model, direction of travel, and any portion of its license plate.
- Preserve evidence. Photograph vehicle damage, debris, skid marks, road conditions, and the surrounding accident scene.
- Get witness information. Witnesses may remember details about the fleeing vehicle that you missed.
- Don’t delay medical care. Some collision injuries aren’t immediately noticeable, and timely treatment also creates documentation connecting the injury to the crash.
- Notify your insurer promptly. A hit-and-run may lead to an uninsured motorist claim when the responsible driver cannot be identified.
- Missouri requires uninsured motorist bodily-injury coverage. The firm’s related UM page states minimum limits of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
- You still have options if the driver is never found. A hit-and-run does not necessarily mean there is no potential source of compensation.
Injured in a Hit-and-Run? We Can Help
Being the victim of a hit-and-run accident is a frustrating and often frightening experience, especially when the driver responsible disappears without a trace. But even without an identified at-fault driver, you still have options.
You don’t have to navigate this process alone. At Cantor Injury Law, our attorneys have decades of experience helping Missouri accident victims fight for justice, even when the at-fault driver can’t be found. We understand how to pursue uninsured motorist claims, push back against insurance companies that try to minimize your payout, and hold the responsible parties accountable whenever possible.
