How Often Do Police Find Hit-and-Run Drivers?
When you get in a car accident with someone, you expect them to stop so you can exchange names, contact information, and insurance policies. But in some cases, the other party drives away. This criminal offense is called a hit-and-run.
If you’ve been injured in a hit-and-run accident, it’s more stressful than a regular car accident because you don’t know the other party. You may worry about paying for car damages and affording medical care. But you don’t have to go through this alone. An Atlanta hit-and-run accident lawyer from Bey & Associates can help you get compensation. We understand how difficult this situation is and will do all we can to get justice for you.
What Tools Help Find Hit-and-Run Drivers?
Hit-and-run accidents occur after a crash when the other person doesn’t stop and the person they hit was injured and needs medical assistance. But don’t think that because they drove away that the police can’t find them. They have many methods to track down hit-and-run drivers.
Their initial information will probably come from you. Unless you have sharp eyesight and a good memory, you probably won’t be able to catch the license plate of the car. After gathering the information from you, they can branch out and launch a full investigation.
- Surveillance Cameras. Highway cameras aren’t the only resource the police can turn to. It’s common now for many businesses and homes to have personal cameras set up for security reasons, and they can sometimes record a hit-and-run and help the police find the driver.
- Eyewitnesses. Other people driving or bystanders can witness the hit-and-run and may be able to remember the license plate number, the model of the car, or what direction they drove in after the hit-and-run.
- Social Media. The police will sometimes bring the story to the news, which is available to people through television and social media. Someone may have seen something or be encouraged to come forward after hearing that the police are trying to help the hit-and-run victim. In some cases, the person who committed the hit-and-run didn’t know they hit anyone. When those people come forward, there’s less of a criminal aspect because they didn’t willingly ignore a hit-and-run.
- Asking Around. Police can go to nearby houses or businesses near the scene of the hit-and-run and ask if anyone remembers anything. They may recognize the car or have a small piece of information that helps lead the police to the driver.
What Can You Do After a Hit-and-Run?
You can help your hit-and-run claim by doing the following after the accident. Contacting authorities and keeping physical records of the crash will help show insurance what happened.
- Call the Police. Your first step after a hit-and-run should be to call the police and request medical assistance if you need it. The police will be able to take your statement and will probably ask if you remember anything about the person or the car that hit you.
- Take Photos. Photograph the scene of the accident, take pictures of your car, and take as many photos as possible. You may catch a detail that helps lead the police to the driver.
- Write Down Information. If you weren’t in your car when the hit-and-run occurred, take notes about the time when you were away from your car and the location where the hit happened. Also record all the damages you find. Photographs can corroborate this.
Hit-and-runs can be devastating, but it’s possible for the police to find the responsible party. Whether or not they find the guilty party will depend on many factors including the type of evidence available, the time of day, and how much manpower the police are able to afford to place on the case. The quicker the police can take action, the greater chance they have of finding the driver. By reporting a hit-and-run accident right away, you’re doing all you can to help the police find the driver as soon as possible.
