The moments after a hit-and-run accident can be frightening and overwhelming. Knowing what to do next can help you stay safe, preserve important evidence, and protect your legal rights. After a crash, you should check for injuries, document the scene, report the accident to law enforcement, notify your insurance company, and speak with a lawyer who can help you understand your options.
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers is here to guide you through each step. Call us at 800-525-7111 or contact us online to learn how we can help after a hit-and-run accident. We serve clients throughout North Carolina, including in:
5 Steps to Take After a Hit and Run Accident
Follow these important steps in order to protect your legal rights if you’ve been injured in a hit-and-run accident.
Step 1: Ensure Safety and Check for Injuries
The first priority after a hit-and-run accident is ensuring safety. If possible, move your vehicle to a safe location to avoid further accidents or traffic hazards. Once you’re in a secure spot, check for injuries, both for yourself and others involved in the crash. If anyone is hurt, immediately call 911 to request emergency assistance. Do not leave the scene of the accident until it’s safe to do so. Staying at the scene ensures you comply with the law and helps authorities gather essential information for the investigation.
Step 2: Document As Much As You Can
Important evidence can disappear quickly after a hit-and-run accident, so it is helpful to document as much as you can right away.
If you or someone with you is able to do so safely, take photos of the crash scene before the vehicles are moved. Include broken glass, skid marks, nearby traffic lights or stop signs, property damage, and any visible injuries. Take photos from different distances and angles to help show the full scene.
You should also write down what happened while the details are still fresh. Note where you were, what you were doing right before the collision, the direction the other vehicle traveled, and any details you remember about the vehicle or driver. If bystanders saw the crash, ask for their names and contact information.
A personal injury lawyer at Riddle & Riddle can also help gather and preserve evidence, which can be especially important if you were taken to the hospital and could not remain at the scene. We can meet with you free of charge in person, by phone, by email, or by video conference. There is no in-person meeting required to get started on your hit-and-run injury case. Call 800-525-7111 today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Step 3: Call the Police
N.C.G.S. § 20-166 imposes a duty on drivers to stop at the scene of a crash, provide identification, and render aid. Failure to do so results in criminal penalties that vary depending on the severity of the accident. A defendant could be charged with a:
- Class 1 misdemeanor carrying penalties of up to 120 days of incarceration, for minor accidents
- Class H felony with a potential penalty of up to 25 months, for accidents with injury or death
- Class F felony with up to 41 months of incarceration, for serious bodily injury, including substantial risk of death, permanent disfigurement, or extended hospitalization
Our experience is similar to the findings of AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety research – about half of all hit-and-run drivers are eventually identified. When those drivers are found, they can face these criminal consequences, as well as civil liability for your losses.
Hit-and-run drivers are more likely to be young men with a history of DWI arrests, drivers with suspended licenses, or criminals carrying contraband. These factors can count against them and make it easier for you to prove fault. They can also potentially result in punitive damages if they were found to have engaged in willful or wanton misconduct that caused your accident.
Lawyers at Riddle & Riddle often work with local police departments to collect evidence when a hit-and-run occurs. Our North Carolina auto accident lawyers leverage more than 171 years of combined legal expertise, and some of our attorneys are members of the esteemed Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and The National Association of Distinguished Counsel, among other prestigious organizations (see disclaimer below). Call us today at 800-525-7111 to learn more.
Step 4: Call a Lawyer
Police departments do not always have the resources to pursue a hit-and-run accident case. Law firms have vast networks of private detectives, crash scene investigators, skip tracers, forensic experts, medical doctors, and other experts they can lean on to build a compensation case.
Our hit-and-run accident investigations may include evidence like automobile paint left on the victim’s clothes or vehicle, skid marks, surveillance footage, bystander statements, suspicious activity at nearby auto body shops, and anonymous tips.
In some past cases, our investigators have located the hit-and-run drivers and contacted the authorities, who were then able to make an arrest.
Usually, drivers don’t leave the scene of an accident unless they are breaking the law or have something to hide. A car accident lawyer can obtain a court order once a potential suspect has been identified, which allows us to collect extra evidence.
If the suspect is apprehended, their auto liability insurance should pay for your injuries – but there is no guarantee. Don’t wait to contact us after a hit-and-run accident. The longer you wait, the harder it may be to recover compensation in your case. For a free consultation concerning a hit-and-run accident resulting in injury, please call 800-525-7111.
Step 5: Call the Insurance Company
North Carolina drivers are generally required to carry uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) motorist coverage as part of their auto insurance policy. For policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2025, North Carolina’s minimum required coverage limits are $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident, and $50,000 for property damage.
Uninsured motorist coverage may apply after a hit-and-run accident if the driver who caused the crash cannot be identified. This coverage can help pay for injury-related losses, subject to the terms and limits of your policy.
However, insurance companies may still dispute parts of your claim. They may question whether certain medical treatments were necessary, challenge the value of your damages, or argue about how the crash happened. Working with a car accident lawyer can help protect your rights during this process.
At Riddle & Riddle, we can investigate the accident, help search for the driver who hit you, gather important records, and work with experts when needed to calculate the full extent of your losses.
You may be eligible to seek compensation for medical bills, lost income, property damage, pain and suffering, and future losses related to your injuries. We can negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf and, if a fair settlement cannot be reached, prepare your case for court.
What If the Hit-and-Run Driver Is Never Found?
If the driver who hit you is never found, your uninsured motorist policy will cover your losses, up to policy limits. North Carolina requires you to buy at least $50,000 in Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage, although you may have more.
The hit-and-run driver must have actually hit your vehicle, either directly or indirectly, for your UM coverage to kick in under North Carolina’s physical contact rule. This restriction is aimed at preventing fraudulent claims and shouldn’t be an obstacle when another driver hits you.
In North Carolina, an insurance company cannot raise your premium because you filed an uninsured motorist claim from a hit-and-run accident. If you are hesitant to report the accident because you’re worried about your premiums increasing, you should not be concerned. Let your insurer know what happened so you can get the money you deserve.
North Carolina's Contributory Negligence Law and Your Hit-and-Run Claim
North Carolina law operates under a pure contributory negligence system, which means if the victim is even 1% to blame for an accident, they may be unable to pursue a claim to collect the remaining amount of compensation that is due to them.
This can create some big challenges in hit-and-run cases. Because the at-fault driver leaves the scene, there is often limited evidence available immediately after the crash. Insurance companies may look closely at the facts and attempt to argue that you contributed to the accident in some way, such as by speeding, failing to signal, or not taking evasive action.
Working with an experienced attorney to gather evidence from day one can help you to protect your claim under these strict rules.
Why Do I Need a Hit and Run Lawyer?
Pursuing compensation after a hit-and-run crash involves complex legal and investigative steps that are incredibly difficult to navigate alone. When you partner with Riddle & Riddle Law Firm for a North Carolina hit-and-run claim, our dedicated team will handle every aspect of your case, including:
Investigating the Scene: Conducting a thorough crash scene investigation, identifying witnesses, and reviewing witness accounts.
Gathering Evidence: Obtaining and analyzing surveillance footage, traffic camera video, and the official police accident report.
Tracking the Driver: Coordinating directly with law enforcement to help identify the at-fault hit-and-run driver.
Building Your Case: Hiring expert witnesses, such as accident reconstructionists, to prove liability.
Managing the Paperwork: Filing your claim, conducting depositions, and drafting all necessary legal briefs and court documents.
Fighting the Insurance Companies: Handling all negotiations with insurance adjusters and defense counsel.
Taking It to Court: Filing a lawsuit, representing you in mediation or arbitration, and fiercely advocating for you at hearings and during a trial if necessary.
While hit-and-run accidents can leave you feeling abandoned, you do not have to fight alone. Many of our clients are relieved to learn that multiple avenues exist to secure financial recovery—even if the at-fault driver is never found.
Contact a hit-and-run attorney at Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers today. Your initial consultation is completely free, and you will never pay any attorney fees unless we win your case and secure your compensation.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer from Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers for Help Today
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers has recovered over $900 million for clients since 2000 alone, and we understand how devastating it can be to face a hit-and-run crash and worry you can’t hold the driver accountable. Our attorneys will fight to help you get the compensation you deserve.
We offer a free case review, and we don’t charge legal fees unless we win. You can also contact us however you are comfortable, including by phone, email, text, or video consultation. Just contact us online or call us at 800-525-7111 to schedule your free consultation. When Justice Counts, you can count on Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers.
