According to NHTSA, there were 737,100 hit-and-run crashes in a recent year, translating to an incident every 43 seconds. Unfortunately, hit-and-run incidents often result in severe injuries, property damage, and fatalities.
Whether the at-fault party is found or not, the victim must cope with medical expenses, physical disfigurement, loss of loved ones, and other substantial impact. As such, it is essential to report a hit-and-run accident, the first step to recovery.
As you try to cope with the impact of a hit-and-run accident, reporting the authorities gives you a better chance of holding the responsible party to account.
If you’re considering reporting a hit-and-run accident, consult an experienced car accident attorney on the way to handle the matter.
When traveling on safe or dangerous roads in Ohio, the last thing you’d expect is to get involved in a car accident with someone who doesn’t stop. Worse still, you may have left your car in a parking lot only to find it damaged from a hit-and-run incident.
Whatever the situation, fleeing the scene of a car crash is illegal. First, any driver who leaves an accident scene without providing contact information is considered to have committed a hit-and-run offense.
So, what should you do if you’re a victim of a hit-and-run incident in Ohio?
Your first reaction may be to chase after the fleeing driver. Even so, chasing after a fleeing driver should be the last thing on your mind. Typically, a driver who flees an accident scene does so because they may be intoxicated, they’re driving a stolen car, or they have a warrant for their arrest.
Most importantly, fleeing drivers don’t want to be caught, which puts you and other road users at risk. In some instances, the Ohio police are restricted from chasing a fleeing driver in the interest of public safety.
Instead, take the following steps after a hit-and-run accident:
Your well-being should be your utmost priority; call an ambulance or 911 if you’re injured. Next, contact the local police department and explain that you’ve been involved in a hit-and-run incident.
Once the police arrive at the scene, they will write a report and try to track down the at-fault driver.
Collect the available information about the scene and the fleeing driver. Write down the license plate number, the vehicle’s description, and direction. Most importantly, take photos of the accident scene.
Someone likely witnessed the hit-and-run incident. Consider checking the surrounding buildings to see whether someone witnessed the hit-and-run incident. If you can identify a potential witness, get their contact information.
Contact your insurance provider immediately to help them investigate and track the fleeing driver. Most importantly, speak to an auto accident attorney who’ll offer further advice about the case and represent your interest in a claim.
Most police departments may not respond to an auto accident if it does not result in injuries, damaged vehicles, or property damage. Fortunately, a driver can report a minor crash on their own.
It is also important to report a minor injury to improve your chances of getting reimbursed for the property damage or injuries. The law requires you to report any auto accident that results in death, injury, or property damage above 1,000.
Most police departments have an accident form that a victim of an auto accident should fill. In addition, police departments allow people to report an auto accident through mail, email, or electronic methods.
Before submitting an accident report to a police department, carefully review its content. Make sure the accident report includes the following:
If the fleeing driver is ultimately found, you can file a claim against their insurer or initiate a personal injury lawsuit against them.
However, if you can’t locate the driver, your insurer might provide compensation depending on whether you purchased a specific optional coverage.
Examples of optional coverages that might cover hit-and-run incidents include:
It is an auto insurance policy add-on that caters to medical expenses incurred by you or your passengers regardless of the at-fault party. The med-pay coverage applies to various costs related to injuries arising from a hit-and-run incident.
Med Pay coverage can cater to medical expenses, including:
Underinsured motorist coverage provides bodily and property damage coverage sustained by you or your passengers in your vehicle due to an uninsured driver who cannot be located.
Personal injury protection coverage, or ‘no-fault insurance,’ is an auto-insurance add-on that covers health care expenses associated with a car accident. If you’re injured in a car accident, your insurance pays for the medical costs regardless of the at-fault party.
You can recover damages if you win a personal accident claim related to a hit-and-run accident. The specific amount for your injury is determined by a jury or after negotiation with the insurance company.
The court may review the amount without a new trial or appeal if the award is excessive or deficient.
A personal injury award may include compensatory and punitive damages.
Here’s a breakdown of the two types of damages:
Compensation damages are designed to place a victim in the same place they were before the injury occurred. By allocating a dollar amount to the victim’s injuries, compensatory damages aim to restore or aid their recovery.
Compensatory damages are divided into two subcategories: monetary losses, also known as special damages, and non-monetary losses, also called general damages.
Here’s a list of compensatory damages related to monetary losses:
Calculating or estimating non-monetary losses is complicated, with the damages varying significantly from one victim to another.
Damages for non-monetary losses include:
Punitive damages are not to compensate victims but to punish the defendant for inflicting an injury and deter others from engaging in similar behavior. Punitive damages are awarded when the defendant’s conduct is deemed outrageous.
If you sustained a broken bone after a hit-and-run incident, you’re likely to experience troubled months ahead. It may prove challenging to deal with the pain and suffering, medical expenses, and loss of income without compensation.
Consider hiring an auto accident attorney to investigate and file a claim against the at-fault party’s insurer.
Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz is a team of experienced attorneys who’ve dealt with numerous hit-and-run accidents, giving us an edge to represent you.
Contact us online for a free case evaluation.
-> See how much compensation for a car accident in Celina we won.
Before establishing Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz L.P.A., Doug Mann, a top Ohio Injury Attorney served as a bodily injury claims adjuster at a major insurance firm. With over 40+ years of experience, Doug’s background has proven invaluable in securing maximum cash settlements for his clients swiftly. Since leaving the insurance industry, Doug has devoted his entire legal career to assisting injured clients during their times of greatest need.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Doug Mann who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a practicing personal injury attorney.
Keep up to Date with Our Newest Firm Updates
The impact of any type of accident can potentially be catastrophic. However, some are particularly dangerous and can lead to costly medical treatments and lifetime adjustments. Accidents involving high speeds […]
Riding in the back of a truck might seem like fun, especially for young kids. It might also be convenient if you have one truck and several passengers. However, this […]
If you’re receiving disability benefits, understanding the rules around work hours can be confusing. The amount you can work while still maintaining your benefits largely depends on the disability benefits […]
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured, please fill out the form below for your free consultation or call us at 1.937.222.2222
