A hit and run is a terrifying experience that can lead to serious injuries and hefty medical bills. If you’re ever in this situation, it’s important to know how your insurance handles the claim. Whether you were driving or parked when the accident occurred, the steps you take following the crash will help you recover from this traumatic event.
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First, report the accident to the police. Even if there are no injuries, this is important to ensure the driver is caught and that you can properly document the incident. It can also help with your insurance claim since the police will provide important identifying information that will be useful later on.
Next, call your insurer and file a claim. This process may vary by company, so it’s best to get started as soon as possible after the accident. Some require claims to be filed within 24 hours, while others might give you 30 days.
If you’re able to, get any witnesses to fill out an accident report as well. This can be especially helpful for the police if you have a hard time remembering details after the fact.
Gather as much information as you can about the other car and its drivers, such as color, model, license plate number, and direction of travel. Having that written documentation will help you remember everything better when you go to file a claim with your insurance provider.
Depending on the circumstances of your hit and run, your insurance might cover part or all of the costs to repair your car. This can be especially true if you have uninsured motorist property damage coverage or uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage.
Make sure you have these types of coverages, which are optional in some states but are mandatory in others. The coverages will pay for your medical expenses, up to your policy limits, in the event of a hit and run.
The key role of insurance is to pool together the money of a group of people with similar risk profiles to protect them against life’s uncertainties, like a natural disaster or a car accident. The insurance company will then use that pool of money to pay out a claim on behalf of the insured person, who can then take out the money and use it for repairs or replacements.
Personal injury protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage are two of the most common type of auto insurance that helps with this sort of claim. Both of these policies typically cover a wide range of damages, including medical expenses and loss of income.
In addition to these policies, there are a number of other insurance options you might consider in the event of a hit-and-run. Some of these include uninsured motorist coverage, collision coverage, and medical payment coverage.
These are all different insurance options, so it’s important to understand how each one might help you in the case of a hit and run. As with any other car accident, the right insurance can help you recover faster from this traumatic experience. It’s also helpful to understand how these insurance options might impact your premium.
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