What to Do in a Hit and Run

A hit-and-run accident is a stressful time for anyone — there’s no doubt about that. But you’re not in this alone — we’ll be right there beside you to help pick up the pieces after the accident. It’s why we’re here — to walk you through the process from start to finish and put you back on the road in no time.

Let’s get started:

1. Safety first

First things first, check to make sure everyone is safe — both inside and outside the car. If anyone needs medical assistance, call 911.

2. Do some detective work

Next, get as much information you can about the other driver, their car and the accident: license plate number, the other car’s make, model and color, which direction they were headed, and the location, time and cause of the accident. If there were any additional witnesses, talk to them too.

3. Notify the authorities

The next step is to call the local police. Remember, it’s important to stay at the scene of the accident until they arrive, especially because the official accident report will be an essential part of the claims process. If you’re able to get the other car’s license plate number, the police will be able to get their insurance information, which will typically hold them liable for the cost of the damage and any medical care.

4. Start your claim

Once you’ve spoken with the police and collected as much info as possible, it’s time to start the claims process — and that’s where we come in! If you weren’t able to get the insurance information for the at-fault driver, your insurance will kick in to help pay for the expenses.

In order to get your claim started, give us a call at 1-800-MY AMFAM, contact your agent (Opens in a new tab), or report the claim online (Opens in a new tab). When filing the claim, it’s important to have the following information on hand:

• Your name, address and phone number
• American Family Insurance policy number
• Date and time of the accident
• Brief description of what happened

Lastly, get back behind the wheel with the peace of mind knowing that help is just a phone call away. And while we hope you’re never in a hit and run accident, know that we’ll always have your back if the unexpected does happen.

This article is for informational purposes only and includes information widely available through different sources.