Ghosted: What to Do When the Other Driver Disappears

After an at-fault driver flees the accident scene without exchanging insurance information or contacts with a victim or calling the police, a victim can try identifying the driver or file a claim against his or her own insurance under his or her uninsured/underinsured motorist or MedPay coverage. It is not uncommon for victims of such accidents to be confused about what to do due to the other driver leaving the scene. It is possible to identify the fleeing party and hold him or her liable for damages.

Steps to Take When the Other Driver Flees the Accident Scene

There are several possible reasons for at-fault drivers fleeing the accident scene. Fear, guilt, or confusion often make drivers react negatively after an accident.

A driver may be frightened of being arrested for drunk driving because he or she was drinking and driving. Another common reason for fleeing is driving without a valid license. Drivers may also feel culpable for a crash and flee to avoid responsibility. A person who has a warrant out for his or her arrest may be looking to evade the police.

Some drivers who leave the scene of the accident do so because they are unaware they caused the accident, as can be the case in a miss-and-run accident. In a miss-and-run accident, only one car sustains damage, which is unlike a typical hit-and-run accident. An example of a miss-and-run accident is when Driver A veers into another driver’s lane abruptly without signaling, forcing the driver to swerve and hit a guard rail, yet Driver A continues driving.

In both miss-and-run and hit-and-run accidents, at-fault drivers flee the scene and leave victims with a pile of bills. Victims of such accidents can take several steps.

Finding the At-Fault Driver

It is always important to call 911 immediately after any kind of accident and wait for the emergency responders to come. That allows victims to get any necessary medical treatment and have a police report, which is an important tool when claiming damages with insurance companies.

The police may manage to locate the fleeing driver. A victim of a hit-and-run or miss-and-run should give the police as many details as possible about the car that caused the crash to help track down the driver. For that reason, a victim needs to gather as much information as he or she can about the vehicle, driver, and accident once he or she is safe. The information includes:

• As much of the license plate as one can remember
• The make, model, and color of the vehicle
• The direction the driver was traveling and the direction in which he or she fled the scene
• Helpful characteristics like custom rims, tinted windows, window or bumper stickers, and corporate logos
• Description of any damage to the other car
• Location and time of the accident

The above information can help the police identify the vehicle and driver. Law enforcement officers can check camera footage from intersections, gas stations, and other businesses nearby to help identify the other vehicle.

Dealing With Insurance Companies

If the police locate the other driver and there is sufficient evidence to prove that he or she was at fault, the driver will be held accountable for damages. The case will proceed like any other motor vehicle accident case. If the driver cannot be tracked down, a victim can make a claim with his or her own insurance company, depending on the type of coverage the person has.

A victim will have to prove that the damages were not pre-existing and were a direct result of the accident. Miss-and-run and hit-and-run accidents are usually highly disputed. The other driver’s insurance company and even the victim’s own insurance company often jump on any reason not to pay the victim.

The insurance companies may try to prove that a crash was a victim’s own fault. In such cases, having an experienced attorney will be beneficial. Attorneys help victims prove that the accident was not their fault, ensure the victims get the full compensation to which they are entitled, and provide guidance through the other challenges of car accident cases.