It’s bad enough being in a car accident. But, when you become the victim of a hit-and-run accident, the confusion and uncertainty are much higher. For example, most drivers do the right thing after an accident; they pull over to make sure everyone is safe and exchange information. But, when the other driver high-tails off, who do you talk to, and what do you do? If you’re not sure what to do in a hit-and-run situation, here’s what you need to know.

What Is Considered A Hit And Run?

Many people think of hit-and-run car accidents as those involving serious injury to a pedestrian, a bicyclist, or another vehicle. However, a hit-and-run includes any accident in which one of the drivers intentionally leaves the scene without providing contact information. For example, suppose a car sideswipes you and speeds off without stopping. Or, someone hits your unattended vehicle without leaving any contact information or making an attempt to get in touch with you. Both situations are considered hit-and-run accidents. In fact, any time an accident occurs and the other driver flees the scene, it’s a hit-and-run. The worst hit-and-runs are those where one or more persons are injured or killed in the accident. It’s hard to believe that anyone would not stop and try to offer aid while calling for medical help. Unfortunately, it happens. Some drivers leave the scene because they are drunk or under the influence. Others get overwhelmed with panic and flee. Some drivers are so drunk they don’t even know they hit someone. Regardless of the reason, it is illegal to drive away after a serious accident in all 50 states.

Hit-And-Runs in the U.S. – A Growing Menace

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA): 

• 737,100 hit-and-run crashes occurred in the U.S. in 2016*
• Of these, 2,049 resulted in fatalities
• A hit-and-run accident occurs every 43 seconds in the U.S. 

The American Automobile Association (AAA) reports that:

• Nationwide, hit-and-run deaths have increased by more than 7% since 2009
• Almost two-thirds of all hit-and-run fatalities are pedestrians or bicyclists

*Most recent data available The state of California experienced 337 hit-and-run fatalities in 2016. This statistic represented the highest number for any state and a 60% increase over the previous decade. On a per-capita basis, the states with the most hit-and-run fatalities in 2017 included:

• New Mexico
• Louisiana
• Florida
• Nevada
• Arizona

States with the lowest hit-and-run fatalities per capita were:

• New Hampshire
• Maine
• Minnesota
• Utah 
• Vermont

How To Report A Hit-And-Run

If you’re wondering what to do in a hit-and-run, the following steps provide a guideline to follow.

1. Assess the situation.

Similar to any auto accident, the first step is to check yourself and any passengers in the car for injuries. If someone is seriously injured, don’t attempt to move them. Instead, immediately call 9-1-1 for emergency assistance. If nobody is hurt, stay calm, move your car to a safe place, and take the following steps.

2. Document the scene of the hit-and-run.

This is one of the most important steps in how to report a hit-and-run. The more information you can provide the authorities, the better their chances of catching the hit-and-run driver.  Start by writing down the time and date of the hit-and-run car accident and the extent of the damage. Then document as much information as you can about the car that hit you, including make, model, color, license plate number, and the direction in which it was heading. Be sure to note anything unusual about the car, such as raised wheels, unique detailing, visible damage or anything else that might make it easy to identify. If you happened to get a glimpse of the hit-and-run driver, write down what you can recall about them: sex, race, approximate age – anything that can help identify the person who damaged your car and then drove away.

3. Identify witnesses.

Look around to see if anyone saw the accident. This could be someone standing on the sidewalk, sitting on a bench waiting for the bus, or another driver who stopped to see if you were okay. Ask them to relate what they saw regarding the accident or driver. In addition, ask them whether they noticed the license plate of the other car. Gather contact information for each witness, including names, phone numbers, home or work address, and email address (some people might not be willing to give some of these details). If you can’t find any obvious witnesses, go into nearby stores or businesses to inquire whether anyone saw the hit-and-run accident. If the accident occurred in a commercial parking lot (at a mall, for example), check to see if any security cameras may have caught the accident. If not, find the mall security office and ask if they have cameras anywhere else on the premises that might have caught the hit-and-run driver leaving the scene.

4. Take pictures of your damaged vehicle. 

Photos are important for documenting the extent of the damage and where it happened. Take close-ups and landscape pictures that show your car at the scene of the accident. These will help explain what happened.

5. File a police report.

Even if you’re not sure about what is a hit and run, call the police or highway patrol to file a police report. Provide all the information you have written down, including the names and contact information of any witnesses. Even if the police fail to locate the hit-and-run driver, filing a report can provide an official document of the events of the accident.  If the accident was minor with no injuries, the police may take the report over the phone or ask you to come into the station. If the police don’t show up, some states will allow you to fill out a driver report. Visit your state’s DMV web site to access the proper form. One final – and very important step– on what to do in a hit-and-run list: never leave the scene in an attempt to chase and confront the other driver. If you’re angry, as many people would be, take a few minutes to calm down and then proceed with the recommended steps. Turn the information you have over to the police and let them handle it. Then contact your insurance company as soon as possible. And remember, if your car needs professional repairs due to a hit-and-run accident or any other type of collision, Fix Auto will be there for you with professional auto body repair services to get your car back on the road safely and promptly. This blog post was contributed by Fix Auto San Jose, a leading industry expert and collision repair shop servicing the San Jose area.