What to Do After a Hit-and-Run Accident in New York

An estimated 700,000 hit-and-runs occur in the United States every single year, and in our bustling New York backyard, traffic is dense, fast-paced, and unpredictable. So, it’s crucial to know exactly what to do if you are ever involved in a hit-and-run accident. 

The experience is undoubtedly traumatic and confusing. Yet, there are a few immediate steps you can take to protect your safety, better your legal standing down the line, and heighten the chances of receiving compensation. 

Step 1: Get To Safety & Dial 911

Your immediate priority should be safety. Start by pulling over and relocating your vehicle to a secure area to prevent further accidents. Then, check yourself, as well as any passengers, for injuries. 

Once you’re safely parked, it’s time to call the police. Dial 911 and report the accident to emergency services, even if you and/or your passengers don’t have any apparent injuries. This police report can prove crucial for later insurance claims and legal proceedings. 

Now, even if the police do not show up, you’ll want to maintain a record of your call in your phone. 

“If the police do come, you, of course, want to try to get that police report. But if they don’t make a police report for you, I want you to know that that’s okay,” explained Lindsay Langella, Partner of Langella & Langella Personal Injury Attorneys. 

Step 2: Document The Scene

You can begin compiling pertinent evidence surrounding the accident. First, determine if you caught a glimpse of the other vehicle and write down anything you can remember. This could include its make, model, color, license plate number, or other distinguishing features. 

Afterward, photograph the scene of the crime. Take pictures of the accident location, your vehicle’s damage, skid marks, and debris. You can share all of this information with the responding officers if they arrive.

Step 3: Obtain Medical Assistance

Get checked out immediately if you are injured. You should never delay seeking medical treatment. Whether you visit an urgent care or a hospital, make sure to address whatever injuries resulted from your hit-and-run accident. 

Step 4: Consult A Personal Injury Attorney

Once you address your injuries, it’s time to call a personal injury attorney. Navigating the aftermath of a hit-and-run accident is complex, but an experienced attorney can guide you through the process. 

You can inform them about your case and your injuries. With this information, they’ll be able to determine the best course of action. 

“If you don’t call an attorney in that immediate time frame, you really want to make sure you’re calling your own insurance company and notifying them of the accident. Here’s why: in New York, you are able to make a claim under your own policy in hit-and-run situations and it’s called an ‘uninsured claim,’”  Lindsay Langella detailed. 

In fact, no matter what insurance provider you use, New York state law requires all drivers to have uninsured motorist (UM) coverage in their auto policies.

However, you must notify your insurance company within a timely period. So, if you don’t call an attorney right away, you want to ensure you’re preserving that claim through your own insurance. 

Understanding New York’s Hit-And-Run Laws

In New York, leaving the scene of an accident is not only unethical but also a criminal offense with serious legal consequences. Under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law 600, any driver involved in a motor vehicle accident has a legal duty to stop immediately at or near the scene of the crash, exchange insurance and contact information with the other parties involved, and call 911 if someone is injured, killed, or you expect the cost of property damage to be valued at over $1,500. 

Additionally, drivers must wait for first responders to arrive on-scene so they can file a police report. 

Failure to take any of these actions constitutes a hit-and-run, and the penalties can vary depending on the severity of the accident. If a driver causes only property damage, the law treats it as a traffic violation—not a criminal offense. However, if a driver injures someone and leaves without providing contact or insurance information, they commit a misdemeanor.

Finally, if a driver causes serious injury and leaves the scene without providing their information, they commit a Class E felony. If the crash results in a fatality and the driver flees without identifying themselves, they commit a Class D felony.

How Langella & Langella Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help

Hit-and-run accidents can leave victims with devastating injuries, costly vehicle damage, and a lot of unanswered questions. But, you don’t have to face this situation alone. 

At Langella & Langella, we bring clarity to chaotic situations, and our legal team doesn’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. Instead, we tailor every case strategy to the unique details of your hit-and-run accident to ensure justice is served. 

Here’s what we’ll do to protect your rights and maximize your compensation: 

• Investigate Thoroughly: We will collect surveillance footage, eyewitness accounts, accident reports, and medical documentation to build a case that’s evidence-based. 

• Consult Trusted Experts: We work with third-party experts who can support and strengthen your claim. 

• Design A Strategy That Works For You: Michael Langella and Lindsay Langella bring decades of combined experience and a personalized approach to every single case. So, your legal strategy will reflect your specific needs with a goal of securing maximum compensation. 

Don’t wait if you’ve been hurt in a hit-and-run accident. Contact Langella & Langella Personal Injury Attorneys for a Free Consultation and let us fight for the justice you deserve.