What to do after a hit-and-run accident

Most drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists in New Mexico practice safety on the road and are responsible in the event they are involved in an accident. Unfortunately, not all drivers stop if they hit another vehicle or person. Fleeing the scene is a serious offense. New Mexico has a high rate of hit-and-run incidents. If you are the victim of one, it is important to know what steps to take.

According to AAA, there has been an increase of hit-and-run crashes over the past few years, and New Mexico is one of the states with the highest rates of fatalities. Although drivers are victims in these types of accidents around 35% of the time, most deaths occur to bicyclists and pedestrians. Because of this, drivers need to be more careful when in their vicinity, including yielding to pedestrians and giving bikers more than enough room when you pass.

Drivers are typically not fatal victims, but they are affected by others hitting their parked vehicle and running off or by drivers causing an accident that results in injuries to the vehicle’s occupants. If you are a victim of a hit-and-run, make sure you take the appropriate steps so you can find the driver who caused the damage and/or collect from your insurance company. According to FindLaw, the first thing you should do is see if anyone is hurt and, if someone is, provide the proper care or call 911. Call the police and file a report, providing as much information as you can. You should also see if there are any witnesses, as their accounts may provide additional information that can help law enforcement. Once a report is filed you should call your insurance company and get instructions for what to do next.

Even if the other driver is never located, you may be able to collect from your own uninsured motorist’s coverage if you were injured. You may need legal help to pursue such a claim. We are experienced in handling uninsured motorist claims.