What to Do if You’re Involved in a Hit and Run Accident in West Houston
Hit-and-run accidents are some of the worst car collisions that take place. If you or a loved one are caught in a hit-and-run accident, you may not know what to do. To help, we break down some of the best tips we know, so you’ll no longer have to ask: what steps should you take after a hit-and-run?
What Steps Should You Take After a Hit and Run in West Houston?
Hit-and-run vehicle collisions not only affect drivers but pedestrians too. The victim is injured – sometimes severely or fatally – and is left to take care of themselves. If you know someone that needs help, a lawyer like Joe Stephens can assist with the situation. His team of experienced lawyers knows what steps should you take after a hit-and-run.
What Are Hit and Run Accidents?
Hit-and-run accidents take place when a driver leaves the scene after an incident. They know that an accident has taken place but choose to flee. In Texas, ‘leaving the scene’ is a punishable offense known as a ‘Failure to Give Information or Render Aid’ and can sometimes be charged as a third-degree felony.
Hit-and-runs usually take place between a car and a person, but hit-and-runs can also take place between two cars. If a car hits yours in a car parking space and drives off, this would also be counted as a hit-and-run. Hit-and-run crashes are more likely to take place on the weekend, on national highway systems, in darkness, and when there are less than three lanes.
What Should You Do if You Are Caught in One?
With fatal hit-and-run crashes rising, and with pedestrian involvement playing an increasing part in this, it is important that people are prepared and know what to do if a hit-and-run occurs. The first step is trying to keep a record of the driver. This might be taking down the license plate, the model of the car, the driver’s appearance, and any other details you can manage to remember about the car or the driver.
The next step is looking for witnesses or security cameras – both will help you to understand more about the collision, and you may even be able to find further details about the driver. The next step is taking documentation of the car accident. For example, take pictures of the scene and of your car. The last thing you want is for a perpetrator to be able to deny involvement because an injury or effect is not well-documented. Finally, you should also file a police report as soon as you can.
How a Lawyer Can Help You
If you are asking what steps should you take after a hit-and-run, remember that having an experienced lawyer on your side will help you to navigate the situation. This is because lawyers will help you to file a hit-and-run claim while defending you from any allegations that may be returned.
Injuries from hit-and-run accidents can be devastating and vehicles can need a tremendous amount of expensive repair work. Because of this, a lawyer like Joe Stephens and his team can work on your behalf to try and get you a fair settlement for the damages you have suffered.
If you’ve been injured by the negligence of another, you could hire any car crash attorney in Katy, or you can hire the best automobile crash attorneys in West Houston. Joe Stephens has been defending injury victims in Texas for over 3 decades from negligent individuals, companies, and greedy insurance companies. As a veteran auto accident lawyer in Katy, TX, Joe handles all cases personally, and his staff is always available to answer questions.
If You Were Injured in a Hit and Run Car Wreck Call West Houston Injury Attorney Joe Stephens Now
So if you have been worried about what steps you should take after a hit-and-run, try to remember these tips. The best thing to do is to try to take down driver and vehicle details if at all possible. At the end of the day, the team at Joe Stephens Law Firm is always on hand to help with any issue you may have. So don’t hesitate to get in touch today.
The Stephens Law Firm, Car Accident Lawyers handles auto accident lawsuits across Texas, including these Houston cities.