Suppose you are driving somewhere. Suddenly someone hits your car with his vehicle and runs away. That’s known as hit-and-run activity. No wonder it’s a very disturbing experience, but it happens most often. Canadian law has severe penalties for a hit-and-run case.
The penalties for escaping a collision might involve criminal charges, fines, license suspension, and even prison sentences, depending on your location and the seriousness of the accident you were involved in.
Let’s know what to do if you ever experience a hit-and-run accident in Canada.
9 Measures to Take After Experiencing Hit-and-Run Incident
Hit-and-run is a criminal offence, so you can take measures if you are a victim in a hit-and-run case. Keep in mind that you need to be quick to take the measures.
Let’s see what measures you can take.
Seek Medical Help
After the accident, the first thing you should do is to check if any injury happened or not. Get medical help if you get injured. Call an ambulance immediately if required.
Gather Information
The second and most important thing to do is gather accident information. Note down all the information you can manage, even the things you remember, such as vehicle model, colour, number plate, and the driver’s description.
Look Over the Damages
It’s important to understand how much damage has occurred after an accident. You should look for any body damage, wheel rims, paint scratches, or headlights that could indicate the other driver’s involvement.
Also, note if the damage was caused by the current incident or because of multiple crashes before the hit-and-run happened.
Find the Witnesses
In a hit-and-run accident, witnesses play an important role. The court also relies upon a witness’ statement. So if it’s in your favour, it can be easy for you to settle the case.
Try to find witnesses who can help you make things easy for you in the legal procedure. Also, try to note their names, location, contact number, or anything else that could help you to reach them.
Learn: What is the Charge for Hit and Run?
Take Pictures of the Accident Spot
When it comes to reimbursement for losses, proofs are really important. It demonstrates how serious the damages are and who is at fault.
We advise you to take pictures of the vehicle and other things from the accident spot as soon as possible after the incident so they accurately reflect what happened.
If possible, you should also take pictures of any identifying markers, such as security cameras, traffic signs, or any building close to the hit-and-run scene.
Call the Police
Call the police immediately after checking the injuries and gathering all the information. A hit-and-run accident is a criminal offence. The investigation officer is supposed to come to take statements and collect evidence from the vehicle.
Make sure you tell them everything you have noticed and experienced throughout the incident and how it happened.
Inform Your Car Insurance Provider
Finally, you should inform your car insurance provider. You must report the damages regarding your policy.
The only kind of car collisions in which you are not at fault but still have to pay is hit-and-runs. This is true since no other insurance provider will pay for the damages within their driver’s liability coverage.
You will not get any reimbursement for your vehicle’s damage without collision coverage. You have to inform the police about the accident within 24 hours.
After that, you can inform your insurance provider. In case of an unknown third party, your damages will be covered by the collision coverage, and you need to repay them.
Get a Personal Injury Lawyer
It is always advisable to take the assistance of a lawyer in this type of case because they are knowledgeable and know what is good for you. If you want to avoid legal issues, immediately get your lawyer to settle them.
They can support you throughout the case and ensure proper investigation by cops and insurance providers. Not only that, but they also make sure the court doesn’t lose or pass over any potential evidence.
Learn More: Average Settlement for Traumatic Brain Injury in Canada
Bonus Tip: Know The Laws in Your Area
Getting familiar with local laws is essential before travelling across an area. In the event of injury or car damage, swift notification will allow you to access any insurance coverage you require more quickly.
What If I was The Person to Cause the Hit and Run Accident?
There are several consequences of causing a hit-and-run accident.
Your insurance company will permanently elevate your charges and insurance premiums if you are at fault. They will contemplate you as the “High-Risk Driver.”
Also, they may terminate your entire insurance policy if they determine that you have become an excessive liability.
If someone was hurt or a third person was killed in the accident, it is another factor in a hit-and-run case. If this is the case, your insurance company might not pay the legal expenses, as leaving the accident spot is against the law.
It would be practically impossible for you to get some other insurance provider ever to cover you if you were convicted of hit-and-run after severely hurting or killing someone due to the danger they would be facing to do so.
Moreover, hit-and-run cases may appear on your insurance history for a minimum of 4 years and a maximum of 7 years.
Learn More: What Happens If You Hit a Pedestrian in Canada?
Bottom Line
Getting involved in a car crash can result in significant stress, anxiety, and distress. Relax, worry less, and try to be calm. At the same time, try not to get stressed when you go through the process of documenting, recording, and reporting that involves the accident procedure after the accident.
For car collision victims handling their recovery, dealing with insurance companies and checking up with at-fault drivers can be challenging. Hence, we highly recommend you seek assistance from an experienced accident lawyer during this process.