In the state of North Carolina, drivers have a duty to stop and exchange information in the event of a crash. A hit and run is when another person causes damage to your vehicle and then immediately flees the scene, leaving you to care for any damage on your own. Being a victim of a hit and run can be a very costly and stressful situation. If it happens to you, follow these steps to handle the situation the best way possible.

Call for Help

The first thing you should do after getting into a collision is to call 911 if you are injured or call the police to the scene to investigate if you are not injured.  Even if the damage isn’t severe, you’ll want to file a police report. It is possible that they might be able to catch the person that hit you if you give them enough information, and the quicker you report the accident the more likely it is that the authorities can track down the other party.

Collect as Much Information as Possible

Being involved in a collision is stressful, and can be disorienting. So, be alert as possible to your surroundings after you have been hit. The more information you can gather, the more the authorities can help you and potentially find the person that hit you.

Information to Collect

• License plate number
• Make, model, color, and approximate year of the car
• Description of the driver
• Time and location of the collision

You’ll want to note the context in which the accident took place and take pictures of any injuries or damage to your car for reference. Witnesses are a great resource, so if you see anyone near you, get their contact information.

Stay at the Location

Remaining at the scene gives first responders and emergency vehicles the best context for what happened. Only move your car if it is causing danger to you or others or if it is blocking an intersection or road. The damage caused by a collision might be more severe than it looks, so moving your car might damage your car more or even harm you. If you decide that it is best to move your car, move it to the side of the road as close to the scene of the collision as possible.

Contact Your Insurance Company

It is important to contact your insurance company as soon as possible to report the claim. Insurance claims can take a long time to process so you want to get the process started. Insurance companies also want the most accurate information, so updating them quickly after is best. Your insurance company will want just as much information, if not more, than the emergency services. Be prepared to send pictures of the damage to make sure your needs are cared for completely.

Be prepared for a car accident by downloading our free car accident response guide (pdf).