What to Do After a Hit and Run Accident

After an accident that damages an individual or vehicle, drivers are required to provide a certain level of assistance and information by Arizona law, which boils down to a few simple requirements:

• Drivers involved in an accident must provide their name, address, and vehicle registration number to the other driver. Upon request, they must also show their driver’s license to anyone who was hit or any occupants of an involved vehicle, driver or otherwise.
• If anyone was injured, drivers must provide reasonable medical assistance, which can include transporting or making arrangements for the transportation of wounded individuals to the hospital.

Fleeing the scene of the collision without adhering to both of these requirements constitutes a hit and run auto accident, which is either a class 3 misdemeanor or class 6 felony (based on whether the first or second legal requirements are ignored, respectively). If you’ve been involved in one of over 100,000 Arizona hit and run accidents that happen annually, you should know what to do next.

Record Evidence and Contact the Police

Your first priority after any type of accident, hit and run or not, should be your safety and health. If you’re injured, call 911 immediately and seek emergency treatment; your life is far more important than catching someone, and you can likely still seek compensation even if the guilty driver isn’t caught. 

Assuming that your life isn’t in danger, you should start gathering evidence. Shock and time alike erode your memories, so making written notes quickly is the only way to be sure that you don’t leave out important details. At the bare minimum, be sure to include details that can’t be gathered later: 

• The license plate number, even if you only recall a portion of it
• A description of the car and any distinguishing features (scratches, dents, stickers, etc.)
• A description of the driver (including notable driving tendencies such as swerving or speeding)
• A summary of how the collision occurred from your perspective

You should also take note of other details, such as traffic conditions, your location, the time of day, your injuries, damage to your vehicle, and anything else that comes to mind. Additionally, talk to any witnesses in the area and gather their names and phone numbers.

Be sure to contact the police immediately. They might be able to catch the driver and ensure that they compensate you in full and receive punishment for their crimes. Once you’ve done so, see a doctor (even if you feel fine) as shock or delayed onset injuries might be affecting you; the medical records generated from seeing a physician will also help verify your injuries.

Talk to an Arizona Accident Attorney

Whether or not you’re able to locate the hit and run driver, an auto accident attorney can help. ELG ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS’s compassionate lawyers can help build a strong case against a guilty driver, or alternatively, help prove that you were struck by no fault of your own if they aren’t caught, giving you a better chance of securing full compensation from your insurance company. Contact us at (623) 877-3600 to get advice from an attorney and schedule your free consultation.