I Was Injured in a Car Accident, and the Other Driver Drove Off. What Should I Do?
Getting into a car accident can be a distressing, often life-changing event. The experience can be daunting, especially when the accident was not your fault and you experienced an injury. Matters can quickly become even more troublesome when the driver responsible for the accident flees the scene. If you are in this situation, do not fret, as there are legal options at your disposal you can choose to implement. Calling a personal injury attorney when an accident like this occurs can be vital as a legal professional can investigate the situation and make sure your rights stay protected.
What to Know if You Are Ever in This Situation
In Illinois, the law regarding fleeing the scene of an accident is stringent and clear. According to Illinois law, it is illegal to leave the site of an accident. Furthermore, any time a car accident occurs, drivers are expected and required to remain at the scene until it is appropriate to leave. Despite the law prohibiting the act of fleeing the scene of an accident, some drivers still attempt to flee the scene, which they may decide to do for a number of misguided reasons. However, regardless of whether the driver responsible for the accident flees the scene, there are still actions you should take to protect yourself and your rights
Immediately after the accident, call 911 for help. Make sure you are attended to by medical personnel to ensure that you are safe, that your injuries are assessed, and appropriate treatment is provided. Furthermore, the police will write in the police report that the driver drove away while also helping to track down the responsible driver. This documentation of the driver fleeing the scene will help prove the event's authenticity. The documentation will likely become valuable as you work through the personal injury process
Also, make sure to document the scene via photos and videos of the damage. Try to collect the information of eyewitnesses, who may be able to provide insight into the driver who fled the scene. And, of course, contact a personal injury attorney as soon as you can. Your attorney will assess the situation, determine the cause of the accident, and can also help you obtain a copy of the police report, which will be a vital piece of evidence moving forward
Source:
https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/062500050K11-401.htm
