1. CALL 911
2. WHILE ON THE PHONE, tell the operator what part of your body hurts (this will help EMS know how/what to expect when arriving)
3. If able, move your vehicle to a safe location
4. If possible, stay in your vehicle until police or emergency personnel arrive
5. Tell both the police and the medical personnel if you feel injured, even if just a soreness or tightness. These injuries often get worse later that day or the next day, but insurance companies will hold reports of no injuries against you
6. Obtain the at-fault driver’s contact information and insurance information, including policy numbers and company name
7. Keep track of all witnesses’ contact information and if possible, take a photograph of each person’s driver’s license
8. Report the claim to your insurance company as soon as possible (many require immediate notice to provide coverage if an at fault driver is uninsured or underinsured
9. DO NOT provide any statements to the at fault driver’s insurance company until you speak with an attorney
10. If you feel injured, seek medical treatment as soon as possible

Under Georgia law, a driver has a duty under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-270 to stop at or return to the scene of an accident. Unfortunately, that does not always happen and innocent people are left injured and without recourse against the at-fault driver.

Hit and run accidents are a harrowing experience and can greatly affect the value of a car accident claim. In Georgia, even if you are struck by a hit and run driver who cannot be identified, you can recover damages under your own insurance policy IF you have the right coverage and IF you follow the steps below.

To recover from your own insurance policy in a hit and run automobile accident, you must first have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage on your automobile insurance policy. This is a separate coverage from your liability or comprehensive coverage. This coverage can be purchased in various amounts from $25,000 and up. Depending on the type of coverage and the amount, this coverage can either stack on top of the at-fault driver’s insurance, or It can provide coverage when the at-fault driver runs from the scene and cannot be identified. Please contact us to learn more about what type of coverage we recommend for our clients and how to navigate the process.

If you have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage on your insurance policy, you can submit a claim to your insurance company for injuries sustained in a hit and run automobile accident. However, each insurance policy has strict requirements that must be met for coverage to apply. Typically, an insured must report the claim immediately, and 1) call the police and have the accident documented; and/or 2) have visible damage from the collision. Each insurance policy is different so please contact us for more information.

Every personal injury case is valued based on a variety of criteria and no two cases are the same. Some factors include how the incident happened, the conduct of the at-fault party, the insurance available, the extent of the injured individual’s injuries, the amount of medical bills incurred, and the county in which the lawsuit will be filed. Our firm has experience in a variety of matters including automobile accidents, tractor trailer truck accidents and commercial vehicle accidents, wrongful death claims, and other personal injury matters.

Contact us immediately if you or someone you know has a potential personal injury case and our team with provide a free case evaluation and discuss the possible outcomes.