Accidents happen all the time. Every day in every city, in every state, in this country, drivers “trade paint” with one another. Fortunately, most people have the common decency to stop and do the right thing, whether that be as severe as giving aid to the other party involved, or calling the police to fill out an accident report, or simply just exchanging information. There may be any number of reasons for a person to leave the scene of the accident: illegal activity, no insurance, intoxicated driver, etc. Regardless of their reasoning, if you have been the victim of a hit and run, know that there are legal resources. The law firm of Parrish DeVaughn is your Oklahoma City personal injury attorney support system.

Steps You Can Take in the Immediate Aftermath of a Hit and Run Accident

In the unfortunate event of a hit and run accident, the victim is usually a little bewildered. Still, it would be extremely beneficial to you if you can at least get the other driver’s license plate number. In the event that you are unable to do that, it is entirely possible that an eyewitness did. Talk to people in the area. Other drivers are sure to have seen what happened and pedestrians are even more likely. If one or more of the people that you ask are able to provide a license plate number and/or vehicle description, you are far more likely to be able to identify the person who hit you and ran. If you do not ask any potential witnesses, you may never know who saw what.

Contact Your Local Law Enforcement

You can also contact your local law enforcement to see if video surveillance was available in the area of the incident. A great many intersections in even smaller cities now have security cameras in place to catch speeders, light-runners or worse. These surveillance systems also abide in parking lots and parking garages. If your incident occurred in one of these more congested areas, there is a better than average chance that the person who hit you was caught on camera. Again, if you do not contact police or the city government, they may not know when and where to look.

Of course, the first thing you should do is call the police to fill out an accident report. Failing any eyewitnesses or video surveillance, there may be little for them to go on, however. If you and the authorities are unable to identify who hit you, there are still possibilities for you to consider.

Make Sure You Get Uninsured Motorist Coverage

The most infuriating part of dealing with an accident in which you are not at fault is getting caught in the inevitable war between your insurance company and the insurance company of the at-fault party. This ire is multiplied exponentially when you don’t even know the identity of the guilty party. Uninsured Motorist Coverage is insurance that will cover any vehicular damage, bodily damage or loss of wages for an uninsured driver that hit you. It is a part of your own policy, and it is a claim that you must file with your own insurance company. In many states, this will apply to hit and run accidents.

Contact an Oklahoma City Personal Injury Attorney

At Parrish DeVaughn Law Firm, we have experienced personal injury attorneys that can answer all of your questions regarding hit and run accidents. We have offices in Oklahoma City, Edmond, and Tulsa, Oklahoma. We offer 24-hour online consultation services, so contact us today for all of your personal injury questions.