Three Tips If You’re The Victim Of A Hit-and-Run Accident

Recently in Waterbury a pedestrian was injured in a hit-and-run accident.   The driver, who fled the scene, turned herself in days later to face charges of reckless driving, criminal attempt at first-degree manslaughter, and other serious charges.  The victim was immediately transported to a nearby hospital due to the severity of her injuries.

All too often, Connecticut auto accidents involve one driver who leaves the scene of the crash, leaving the victim of the accident shaken and often injured.  It is criminal to leave the scene of an accident.  

If you are the victim who is left behind, it is important to make sure that you follow some simple steps to take care of yourself and help find the person who left the scene of the accident.  Taking the following three steps will help ensure that you are safe, and the other driver is brought to justice.

1. Make sure you are safe.  If the accident happened in the middle of an intersection you will want to either drive yourself or walk yourself to the side of the road where you can be protected from further on-coming traffic.  

2. Call 911.  The sooner the police and EMS arrive on the scene the sooner your injuries can be looked at and the more likely it will be that the police will be able to put together what happened and track down the driver that left the scene.

3. If you are able, take pictures of the scene.  These types of scenes often change quickly as emergency personnel arrive, so taking pictures of exactly how the accident happened may be critical to bringing the person who hit you to justice.

The above tips are only if you are physically able to perform these tips.  If you are too injured to move, you should stay still and wait for emergency personnel to arrive.  They will document the scene and direct traffic to keep you safe.  

A Connecticut auto accident that involves a hit-and-run scenario can be made even worse if the driver who left the scene is able to get away with it and is never brought to justice.  It is important to handle your safety, but to also do everything you can do to help authorities bring the driver to justice.

If an injury occurs as a result of a hit-and-run accident you may want to speak to an attorney who can help you navigate the process of making sure your interests are protected.  Contact our office immediately and one of our experienced attorneys will review your case.