Being involved in an accident is a traumatic experience, but a hit and run are incredibly traumatic. You can find yourself not only injured but left unsure whether those responsible will be held accountable.
These days, the police are doing fantastic work to ensure that those involved in a hit-and-run case are held accountable and bring them to justice. But this can take time. You might find yourself sitting at home wondering, when will the police contact me? When will I hear news?
Is there a time limit on being contacted after a hit and run? Well, today we are going to find out! Keep reading to find out the answer to how long after a hit and run will the police contact you?
What is a hit and run?
For those in the room who might not be sure, let’s quickly recap what a hit and run are. A hit and run is a road accident where the driver who causes the accident drives away without helping or attempting to contact the police or other emergency services.
There are many hit and run examples, such as a collision between two cars where one drives off, a vehicle hitting a pedestrian and driving off, or hitting a parked vehicle and driving without stopping.
How long after a hit and run will the police contact you?
After a hit and run, how long the police will contact you can vary from accident to accident. As the victim of a hit and run, you will need to contact your insurance company to report the accident. You will also want to contact the police if they have not already been informed.
When speaking to both the police and your insurance company, try to provide as many details as possible. Information such as the car's license plate, make, model or description of the driver can help the police locate the driver quickly.
It is a good idea to note any surveillance cameras in the area that could assist your case. Any witnesses can also be helpful. Make sure you get the details from anyone who stops to assist you. Appeals on social media can also be useful to find witnesses and potential dashcam footage from other drivers.
Remember when putting details on social media to consider the information used carefully. You might want to consult a legal professional to avoid implicating the investigation in any way.
Once the police have gathered all the information, the investigation can begin. They can be conducted quite quickly. If there is ample evidence, surveillance footage, or a car’s license plate, the culprit could be found within a few days. Once the driver has been found, the police will contact you or, in some cases, your insurance company. The other driver’s insurance details can be accessed from here, allowing you to get compensated rightly.
Generally speaking, it can take up to 28 days for the culprit to be found. You should expect to hear from the police roughly 14 days after the collision. This can vary based on your state's police department, and they should be able to provide you with a more concrete timeline.
Depending on the amount of evidence, it can take longer to find the culprit. In some cases, the driver is never found. This could be due to stolen cars, false license plates, or a lack of evidence. In these cases, you will need to inform your insurance company that no driver has been found and proceed without their insurance details.
How will I get compensation?
The process of claiming compensation from a hit-and-run accident will vary depending on if the driver has been found. You can claim compensation from the driver, their or your insurance company, or via restitution.
If the driver is uninsured or does not have a valid policy, you can claim directly against the driver. This can be challenging if the driver does not have a sufficient income to pay you.
Claiming on their insurance policy will allow you to get the compensation you require promptly. You can also claim with your insurance company, but this can affect any no-claims bonuses you might have and cause a price increase when it comes to renewal.
In some cases, you can also ask a judge to order the driver to pay your losses if the driver is charged. This is because fleeing the scene of an accident is illegal. When deciding how to pursue your compensation claim, be sure to consider all avenues. If necessary, consult with legal professionals for further advice.
What about if you caused the accident?
If you were the driver in a hit and run, you must speak to the police as soon as possible. Fleeing the scene is a serious crime and has serious repercussions. These repercussions will depend on the severity of the accident. For example, if someone in the accident has died, you could be looking at manslaughter or death by dangerous driving charges.
In these cases, you might want to consider legal representation when you contact the police. If you do not contact the police, there is a strong probability that the police will contact you. These days, with so many cameras, dash cams, and drivers around, you will likely be caught, and the police will contact you.
You will be expected to provide details of the accident and your insurance details so that the victim can proceed with vehicle repairs or compensation. Remember, the best thing to do in these cases is to come forward to the police as soon as possible.
Final Word
As you can see, how long the police will contact you after a hit and run will vary on a case-by-case basis. The amount of time will vary depending on the amount of evidence the police can access, provided by yourself, witnesses, or surveillance footage.
You should expect to hear from the police within a fortnight of the accident, but be mindful that this can take longer depending on the accident in question.
If you were the driver in the accident, it is better to contact the police before contacting you. This avoids the investigation dragging on and will offer a quick resolution for all parties involved.
