Divorce Law and You

After a hit-and-run, most motorists will call the police, remain in their vehicle, and allow the police to handle the problem. After all, it isn't hard to spot a car that might have damage as a result of the accident. However, there are some motorists who will pursue the fleeing hit-and-run driver. While it is possible to legally pursue the driver, there might also be consequences for this decision.

You May Become Injured

One possible consequence is that you may exacerbate your injuries. You may think that you're okay, but you won't know for sure until you have taken a trip to the hospital. The act of pursuing the other motorist may lead to you becoming further injured.

You Might Hurt Your Case

When you leave the scene of the accident to pursue the motorist, you may miss opportunities to obtain information from witnesses that may be used to track down the hit-and-run driver. Even worse, the police officer investigating the case may not be able to determine who was at fault, unless you have a dashcam on your car. 

You May Drive Recklessly

Pursuing the other motorist may lead to you driving recklessly. This can lead to you receiving traffic citations even if you do not cause an accident. If you do cause an accident or injure or kill someone, the consequences will be much more severe. Do not attempt to ram the car of the hit-and-run driver or block it in. 

The Other Motorist May Be Dangerous

When the other motorist flees the scene, he or she is more likely to be desperate and might take actions to stop you from pursuing him or her. In extreme cases, the hit-and-run driver might become dangerous.

Instead, you will want to obtain as much information about the car that hit you as possible. You will want to write down the make, model, and license plate number as soon as possible before the motorist has an opportunity to drive away. Write down the location of the accident and take photographs of the accident scene. 

A police report is always useful because you can expedite the claims process, even if the police do not find the motorist. You'll also want to hire a car accident lawyer who can assist you in determining which course of action would be best. If the motorist is tracked down, you may then want to pursue legal action.