Nobody likes to imagine themselves being involved in an accident. However, accidents happen each and every day on the roads in Knoxville, and it is always important to know what to do in the event that it happens to you. Most of the time, both parties are going to stop, check for injuries, exchange their insurance information, and possibly wait for the police or ambulance depending on the severity of the accident.
Sometimes, though, the other party does not want to stop, knowing that they could get into trouble. If that occurs, you have been in a hit and run accident. Many people have no idea what they should do if this happens to them.
This type of accident is any sort of accident where another driver flees and does not leave any type of information to allow you to contact them. Some examples could be if a vehicle hits your car and then flees the scene, a vehicle hits you as a pedestrian or biker and leaves the scene, or when someone hits your vehicle that you parked and leaves without providing any contact information.
The first thing you need to do, if you or others were involved in the scene of the accident, is check for injuries and get medical help if needed. Try your best to keep in control even though this can be an extremely stressful situation. Gather all the information possible regarding the accident, as this will increase the chance that the authorities will apprehend the person who is responsible for hitting you.
Some of the most important information to get include the make and model of the vehicle, along with the licplateplace number. If there are any witnesses to what happened, ask them for their information to get in touch if needed, as well as what they saw. Write down the time and location of the accident and photograph the scene. Take photos of your vehicle, as well, making sure that you include paint that might have been left by another vehicle. This information will be helpful to the insurer, as it can prove to them that you are not trying to commit insurance fraud.
You should also contact the authorities and file an accident report. While the police might not be able to locate the driver who hit you, it can help with the claims process for your insurer.
If you have been hurt in the accident, you should also get in touch with a quality attorney in Knoxville who deals with personal injury accidents. The attorney can help you and your loved ones who have been injured in the accident.
After spending his secondary years of study at The McCallie School in Chattanooga, G Turner Howard III earned his BA at Tulane University. A member of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, he received his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law. Before becoming an attorney, he earned a Master’s and Doctor of Divinity at Andrews Theological Seminary and Columbia Theological Seminary. He also served as a 1st Lieutenant in the US Army in Vietnam. With more than 20 years of experience, his firm has helped clients receive millions of dollars for personal injury, and in many cases, much faster than they ever expected.