According to information released by CBC, hit and run car insurance claims in Canada are hitting unprecedented numbers – those numbers are even more discouraging in the more densely populated cities in Ontario. Hit and run rates in Saskatchewan have nearly doubled since 2000.
If you are the victim of a hit-and-run motor vehicle accident, here is some vital information you need in order to ensure a successful claim:
• Enlist the professional services of a legal counsel immediately after seeking medical attention for your injuries.
• Collect as much information pertaining to the accident as possible, including contact information for any witnesses.
Taking pictures or notes that detail other useful information is also essential. Items of interest such as the make and model of the vehicle, the scope of damage to the vehicle and distinguishing characteristics or tire tracks leading away from the scene.
Having this information documented in a police report will benefit your case greatly when it comes to negotiating a settlement with an insurance company. The more documentation you gather, the faster your hit and run car insurance claims can be processed.
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Filing a hit-and-run car insurance claim can be a nightmare without the
proper legal counsel, but with professional services, compensation can still be
easily awarded even if you do not know who the person who hit you was.
Timing is Key
While most insurance claims need to be made within a
week in order to be reviewed by the court, a hit-and-run car insurance claim
operates a little differently. Since there is a high degree of likelihood that
you are not familiar with the individual who caused the damage, a report
concerning the accident must be filed with the police within 24 hours to ensure
that it qualifies under "no-fault” coverage. Even if you did not see the
accident occur, it is imperative that you create a list of names and numbers of
those witnesses present, even if they have not seen anything that would
specifically identify the guilty party. Not witnessing the damage occur will
actually greatly help in establishing your claim. In the case that you were in
the vehicle when the accident happened and are injured as a result, the witness
list and subsequent police report will strengthen your compensation claim when
asking for financial awards from the insurance companies.