What to Do if You Witness a Hit and Run Accident

Under Florida law, any motorist involved in an accident must stop and assist anyone injured in the crash. Alarmingly, hundreds of motorists step on the gas pedal and flee the scene instead, refusing to take accountability for their role in the collision. If you witnessed a hit and run, what should you do? Our Orlando hit and run accident lawyer lays out the critical steps to take, and we encourage you to call our firm if you were injured in any type of motor vehicle wreck.

What to Do if You Witness a Hit and Run

We recommend you follow these steps to help with the investigation into a hit-and-run. This is a serious crime, and many people are seriously injured in these accidents. Economic losses can be staggering, too.

1. Write down details of the fleeing vehicle. You should write down as many details of the car that fled as you can. Begin with the car’s make, model, and color. Also note any distinguishing features, like a burnt-out headlight or bumper stickers. And did you see any of the license plates? Even a few numbers or letters could be all that’s needed for the police to locate the car.
2. Note details of the fleeing driver. Did you get a decent look at the driver, too? Write down anything that seems relevant, like age, gender, race, hair color, and whether they were wearing glasses. These details can help the police find the individual who fled.
3. Take a quick photo, if you can. The offending driver might stop, at least briefly, to see if anyone was in the car they struck. When they see no one was hurt, they hit the gas and get out of town. You might have enough time to get a photograph of the accident with your phone.
4. Call the police. A hit-and-run witness can report an accident to the police. Tell them the location of the wreck and stay at the scene until they arrive. Then you can share your details of the driver and the fleeing vehicle.
5. Call an ambulance, if a victim needs one. Some people are severely injured in a hit and run crash. They could have been struck as a pedestrian or they were in a car that was struck. Ask if they need a lift to the hospital.
6. Speak with witnesses. Other people could have witnessed the accident, too. Their testimony is also valuable. You can gather the names of all witnesses, along with a method of contacting them (such as a phone number). You can hold onto this information to share with the owner of the car which was struck.
7. Search for the car owner. You might have witnessed a hit and run parked car, in which case the owner might not be at the scene. You can try to locate them by going into nearby businesses and asking if anyone owns the car. You don’t need to search all day, but you can go into at least the nearest businesses or restaurants and ask.
8. Leave a note on the damaged car. If you witnessed a hit and run parked car, then you can leave a note for the driver. The note should include details, such as you saw a car crash into the vehicle. Write down the date and time and leave a phone number where the victim can reach you. As a hit and run witness, you could play a key role in the insurance claim.
9. Talk to any insurance adjuster who calls. You might need to give a recorded statement to the insurance companies. They will probably call you at home and ask you to describe what you saw and remembered.
10. Share any dashcam video. Do you have a dashboard camera? If so, then it might have recorded the hit and run accident. You could volunteer to share this video evidence with the insurance companies.

You might also be asked to testify at trial. Most car accident cases settle, in which case no trial is necessary. But around 5-10% of cases cannot be settled, so you might be called into court to testify as a witness.

Were You Injured in a Hit and Run?

If someone struck you or your car, then you are more than a witness. You are a victim! You should do as many of the 10 items listed above as possible—provided you are not in too much pain. You can share any details with the police to help them investigate.

Obtaining compensation for a hit-and-run is difficult. Florida motorists can use personal injury protection (PIP) benefits, which are no fault. The state requires that motorists carry at least $10,000.

But if you were seriously injured, then you should contact our law firm to discuss options. You might have uninsured motorist insurance, which can pay compensation for a hit and run. Or the police might find the driver, which is even better. Once we know their identity, we can bring a legal claim against them.

Other hit-and-run victims might make a claim on the state’s Crime Victims Compensation Fund. This fund pays for certain losses associated with crimes, and a hit-and-run should qualify.

We can discuss more in a free consultation. Our firm excels at protecting the rights of accident victims, and we are only a phone call away.

JustCallMoe and Speak with an Orlando Hit and Run Lawyer!

Hit-and-run victims deserve financial compensation to cover all their expenses, including damage to their vehicle and medical care for bodily injuries. When an at-fault driver flees, many injured victims are unsure of their legal rights. The good news is that we have helped many hit-and-run victims get compensation following a devastating accident. Call our experienced Orlando hit-and-run accident lawyers at JustCallMoe.

You can schedule a free, no-strings consultation to go over what happened and discuss the status of the police investigation.