What Do You Do if the Other Driver Flees the Scene of Your Car Accident in Birmingham, Alabama?

Hit and run accidents are far too common. It’s bad enough having to cope with injuries caused by bad driving, but the least you can expect is that the other driver remains behind at the scene of the accident.

Unfortunately, many hit and run drivers are uninsured, unlicensed or have other reasons for fleeing, such as being intoxicated or on the run from the police.

It may be hard trying to recover damages from a hit and run driver, but a personal injury attorney can help you determine any potential legal options you may have available. The police are in the best position to deal with a fleeing driver, and if you’re injured, you have other things to worry about.

Personal Injury attorneys have certain tools at their disposal that can help them ascertain the name of the person responsible for the crash. They can also help you file an uninsured motorists’ claim to get compensation for your losses.

Why Would Someone Flee the Scene of a Car Crash?

There are many reasons why someone would flee the scene of an accident, including:

• They don’t have a valid driver’s license
• They have no auto insurance
• They could be driving a stolen car
• They may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash
• They have active warrants and don’t want to get arrested
• They know they’re at fault and want to take their chances of getting away undetected

Of course, there is the rare situation in which someone truly doesn’t realize they were in an accident. For example, if someone is driving a big rig or large SUV, they may not feel it when they clip you. Or, if you hit someone from behind lightly, they may not realize the impact. However, these cases are few and far between.

You Should Still Call the Police Even if the Other Driver Flees the Scene

If the other driver takes off after your car accident, you should call the police. They will come to the scene and make sure everyone is okay. If you or one of your passengers need medical attention, they’ll arrange for an ambulance.

The police will also conduct a thorough investigation of the accident scene. They’ll prepare a police report that your car accident lawyer in Alabama can use to prove your case. The police report will typically contain the following information:

• A description of the crash site
• A description of the road conditions
• The name and contact information of any witnesses
• Pictures of the scene
• Information regarding any intersection cameras that may have captured the crash
• Your statement of events

All of this information may help your Alabama car accident lawyer prove your case. If the witnesses saw what happened, they can help pin down the person who hit you. They may have even taken a picture or video of the crash. This information can be very helpful. If you don’t call the police, you won’t have the benefit of this information.

What Can Your Birmingham Car Accident Lawyer Do to Help?

When you retain your Birmingham car accident lawyer, they’ll do what they can to determine the identity of the person who hit you. They can subpoena copies of videos from third parties. They can also get copies of the footage of any videos or intersection cameras. This information can be very helpful in proving your case.

Your attorney will also talk to the witnesses to see if they have any helpful information. For example, someone who was in the lane next to you may have caught a description of the car. They may have even taken a picture of their license plate. In this day and age of digital information, you never know when someone is watching.

Either way, the best thing to do is call our office right away and schedule your free initial consultation.