WHAT TO DO IF INJURED IN A HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT
Even the most seasoned driver must be prepared at all times for the unforeseen danger of automobile drivers who are not paying attention to the road. Hopefully you will be able to maneuver around the danger but sometimes you will not be that lucky.
If the other driver stops and exchanges pertinent accident information, you have a good chance of recovering your damages...but what if they don¹t? There¹s a likely chance that you may be involved in a HIT AND RUN at some point. Unfortunately, many drivers currently using our roads are driving without licenses or insurance, or had multiple suspensions. These circumstances make them far more likely to leave the scene of the accident.
If you have been the victim of a hit and run accident, there are a few things that you must remember.
1. An altercation with the ³suspect² may result in far more serious problems.
2. If at all possible, get the license plate number of the vehicle.
3. Call 911 immediately. Provide the police with as much information as you can about the other driver. Make, model, color of car, physical description of the driver if you are able to see them, and most importantly, the direction they are traveling. The police may issue a notice to nearby towns to pursue the suspect vehicle and also send a unit to assist you.
4. Talk with as many witnesses as you can. Make sure you ask for their name, address, and telephone number and ask them (beg if you must) to please wait for the police to arrive so that they can give a statement while their memories are fresh.
5. Protect the accident scene. Even the smallest piece of evidence could carry a ³signature² of the other driver. For example: lenses from headlights and taillights (often smashed during the accident) carry a code from the DOT that marks the make, model, and year of the vehicle. This evidence will certainly help to narrow the search. Carry a small camera in your car. INSIST to the police to write up a police report.
Increase your uninsured motorist coverage on your insurance. If you are injured in a hit and run, we often are still able to help you obtain money compensation from the Unsatisfied Claim and Judgment Fund or from your own insurance company. Most drivers in New Jersey have uninsured motorist coverage to protect them if they are seriously injured in a hit and run accident. Call Kenneth A. Vercammen to schedule an ³in-office² consultation. Bring your insurance declaration sheet, insurance policy, and the accident report.
