After a vehicular accident, by law, everyone must stay on the scene unless taken away by medical personnel for treatment or released by the investigating officer. Unfortunately, not everyone agrees with that sentiment, and because of many reasons, getting into a hit-and-run in New York is becoming more and more of a real possibility. 

What do you do if you are involved in a hit-and-run in New York? Here is some advice.

Call 9-1-1

In a “normal” accident everyone stays on the scene, and the offender usually calls the local police. However, if you are the victim of a hit-and-run in New York, call 9-1-1 right away. Calling 9-1-1 is the appropriate first step for several reasons:

• Alerting the authorities that an accident has occurred
• Alerting the authorities that a hit-and-run, a crime, has occurred
• Calling 9-1-1 increases the odds some officers will spot the fleeing vehicle
• The police are more adept at collecting evidence that can lead to an arrest than you are
• It will get medical attention to the scene quicker

If anyone is injured at the scene, calling 9-1-1 gets a comprehensive response, including letting emergency medical personnel, police, and fire know a crisis is unfolding.

Document What Happened

In most cases, an accident leaves people involved in shock, and remembering clear details is difficult. Add the trauma of a hit-and-run incident, and important details about the accident and the fleeing participant can be completely forgotten. 

Write down or take a voice memo on your smartphone that documents what happened, what the other vehicle and occupant looked like, and any other details you can remember. You do not know whether one “insignificant” detail will tip off law enforcement and help catch the other party. Documenting your thoughts can also help you remember details later.

Additionally, documenting everything will help your attorney. They can rely on your notes or comments to help establish what happened from your perspective. That can also help your attorney formulate an investigation strategy and a legal path as they handle your case. 

Talk to Witnesses

Talking to witnesses and getting their impressions, observations and opinions are as important as documenting your thoughts and observations. A witness might have observed something about the other party that can help law enforcement or helps with your case if you end up suing the other party or their insurance company. 

Witnesses can also help establish what happened. They might have seen the other vehicle being operated erratically or the other driver committing moving violations. Additionally, they might have a more complete description of the other vehicle and driver than you do because they saw the accident from a different perspective than you did.

A witness can help establish fault as well. Establishing fault is important if your injuries exceed New York State no-fault car insurance regulations. If that happens, your only hope might be what a third party observed.

Let Your Insurance Company Know

The chances are high that your insurance policy mandates that you report any accident promptly. Even if you were at fault or it looks like the other party will never get caught, letting your insurance carrier know to adhere to the policy language is critical. You do not want to lose coverage for yourself or your vehicle because you broke the policy.

When you do contact them about your hit and run in New York, only offer up the information they request. Until you know more, the best approach is to assume your carrier will at least ask you many questions to determine if your claim is legitimate. Do not ever say you were at fault or made a mistake. Let them draw that conclusion on their own if that is what happened. 

Call an Attorney

As soon as you can, contact a New York car accident attorney for a free consultation. They can review your case, follow up with law enforcement and help you figure out the next best steps you can take. Your lawyer will tell you good and bad news and help you frame any responses to your insurance company if the carrier treats the accident like it was your fault.

The other benefit to having an attorney on your side is that if the other party is caught, your lawyer will know how to proceed in a way that is most likely going to get you what you deserve. If you go it alone, your claim against the other party might get lost in the chaos of criminal charges, etc. 

Finally, your NY car accident lawyer can help you formulate the best legal strategy possible. Legal options might include suing the other party’s insurance carrier or the other party personally or looking at a culpable third party. 

Brandon J. Broderick, New York Car Accident Lawyers that Turn Setbacks into Comebacks

We get it. Car accidents can have an impact on your health, well-being, and finances which can cause worry, fear, and anxiety -- for you and your family. Wouldn’t it be a relief to know you could count on a trusted friend and advisor to passionately champion for you? Someone who’s got your best interests in mind? 

At Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, we believe in exceptional client care, empathy, and results. With our long track record of success, you can count on us to take the best strategy and work tirelessly for your quality of life. Our New York car accident attorneys have decades of experience representing victims in car accidents. We’ve helped people just like you move forward after sustaining an injury that was caused by another’s negligence. Contact us today for a free consultation.

New York locations across New York State and New York City, including Manhattan, Queens, The Bronx, and Brooklyn.