Even the most minor of fender-benders means a snag in your day. However, a minor fender-bender can become a major headache if the other person involved in your accident decides to drive away rather than stay at the scene.
Dealing with a hit-and-run accident may feel overwhelming. The good news is that most of the protocol is similar to “regular” accidents. According to State Farm Insurance, the most important things to do are to stay at the scene of the accident and speak to eyewitnesses.
Stay where you are
When you are watching the other person drive away from the crash site, your first reaction may be to drive after him or her. However, you should resist this impulse. Driving away from the scene of the accident can confuse eyewitnesses.
It is smarter to stay at the scene and move your car out of the flow of traffic if this is necessary and possible. If anybody at the site has sustained an injury, call 911 for medical assistance. Otherwise, call the non-emergency police number to make a police report. This will make working with your insurance after the fact much easier. You should also document the accident yourself with photos.
Talk to others
Eyewitnesses are uniquely helpful in hit-and-run incidents. Since most people have smartphones, it is possible that a savvy eyewitness managed to get video or photo evidence of the other driver. If this is the case, it will make it easier for the police to track the other driver down. Hit-and-runs are very similar to other accidents if you can keep your cool.