Many people have been involved in a car accident at some point in their life, but most of the time, the other driver involved does the right thing and stays at the scene to provide their information.
However, in some instances, this doesn’t happen and the other driver hits your vehicle and leaves the accident scene.
This type of situation is called a hit and run accident and there are several things you can do to protect yourself and your vehicle in the Plainfield, Indianapolis, Fishers, or Bloomington areas. At Andy Mohr Collision Center, we’re here to handle the repairs after the fact, but we recommend you follow these specific steps to help yourself in the process.
Follow These Steps to Protect Yourself
Jot It Down
Immediately following the accident, be sure to take down as much information as possible, including:
- License Plate Number – If you manage to catch any portion of the other vehicle’s license plate, write it down, even if you’re not sure.
- Make, Model, and Color – If you recognize the make of the car that hit you or that was a detail you were able to catch before the vehicle left the scene, then take note. It’ll be most helpful if you can identify the make and the model. If you can’t remember those details, the color of the vehicle can also be helpful for identification.
- Where You Are/Were – If you’ve moved your vehicle off the road, make sure you record exactly where the accident took place and around what time the collision happened.
- Witnesses – If the incident happens in a populated area, someone around you is going to see something. If it happened in front of someone, ask the people around you if they’re willing to go on record as a witness. Ask them for their contact information and record it. Tell them you’re planning to contact the police.
- Route of Escape – When the vehicle fled the scene, which direction did it go? If you saw the vehicle leave, make sure you provide as much detail as possible, such as landmarks and direction of travel.
- Photo Documentation – Only if you’re safe from harm should you conduct this next step. Use your smart phone to take some photos of your vehicle’s level of damage and the area in which the accident took place.
Call the Police
Once you’ve collected your thoughts and all the necessary information, contact your local police department.
Provide them with the above information you’ve recalled and/or obtained from witnesses. This information will aid them in searching for the vehicle that was responsible for the damage to your vehicle.
Contact Your Insurance Company
In order to fix the damage to your vehicle, especially since you don’t have the information of the other driver, you’re going to need to file a hit and run claim with your insurance company. They’ll also need you to provide them with the location of the accident along with a statement of what happened, and then they’ll begin the claim process.
If the police are able to find the motorist who struck your vehicle and they’re insured, then their insurance company will be contacted.
However, in the meantime, your insurance company can help you secure a tow truck as well as a rental car if that is part of your policy. They’ll be in touch with you regarding any further information they may need or additional steps to take.
We Can Help After the Accident
At Andy Mohr Collision Center, we’re equipped to handle any damage to your vehicle after your hit and run incident. From superficial body damage to more serious frame damage, we can assist you in restoring your vehicle to its previous condition.
We offer four convenient locations in the Indianapolis, Fishers, Bloomington, and Plainfield areas, so be sure to communicate your desires to your tow truck driver after the accident and we’ll do everything we can to assist you.
