What Should I Do First?

Step 1: Make Sure Everyone Is Safe.

After a hit-and-run, your safety comes first. Move to a safe location if possible, check yourself and any passengers for injuries, and call 911 if anyone is hurt or there is an immediate danger. Do not chase the fleeing driver. Stay calm and wait for emergency assistance if needed.

Step 2: Call the Police and File a Report.

Once you are safe, call 911 and report the hit-and-run. Provide the location of the accident, a description of the fleeing vehicle, its license plate number (if known), and the direction it traveled. Ask for the responding officer's name, badge number, and police report number.

Step 3: Document the Scene Before It Changes.

Take clear photos and videos of your vehicle's damage, the accident location, debris, broken vehicle parts, tire marks, and any paint transferred from the fleeing vehicle. Record the date, time, and exact location of the accident. If possible, photograph the surrounding area before evidence disappears.

Step 4: Look for Nearby Cameras.

Look for security cameras near the accident scene and along the route the fleeing vehicle may have taken. Check nearby businesses, gas stations, homes, apartment buildings, intersections, and traffic cameras. Take photos of camera locations and write down the names and addresses of businesses that may have captured the accident.

Step 5: Ask That Video Evidence Be Preserved.

Contact nearby businesses, homeowners, and other locations with security cameras. Ask them to preserve any footage that may have captured the accident or the fleeing vehicle. Submit a written preservation request that includes the date, time, and location of the accident. Contact the investigating officer and ask that relevant surveillance footage be obtained before it is automatically deleted.

Step 6: Find Witnesses.

Look for anyone who may have witnessed the accident or seen the fleeing vehicle. Speak with nearby pedestrians, drivers, business owners, and residents. Ask for their names and contact information, and whether they are willing to provide a statement to the police.

Step 7: Start Your Own Evidence File.

Create a personal evidence file to organize everything related to your hit-and-run. Include photos, videos, witness information, police reports, surveillance camera locations, and copies of preservation requests. Keep a written timeline of the accident and all communications with the police, insurance companies, and potential witnesses.