Being involved in a hit-and-run accident can be highly stressful, especially if you sustain injuries and property damage. Witnessing one can be equally stressful, especially when you don’t know what to do what to do if you witness a hit and run. Understanding your responsibilities as a witness to a car accident can help you deal with the situation. After witnessing an accident, the attorneys at Gregory Spektor & Associates can provide the information you require and assist you in taking the necessary steps.
After witnessing an accident, the New York Car Accident Attorneys will assist you in gathering necessary evidence and determining what steps to take after the accident.
In some cases, victims of hit-and-run accidents may be subjected to brutality and psychological trauma. Someone has committed a hit-and-run if they have caused damage to another vehicle, person, animal, or piece of property and fled the scene.
The perpetrator withholds identification details from the victim, a witness, or a law enforcement official, such as their name, license number, contact information, and insurance details. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has reported that hit-and-run incidents have increased in major cities like New York.
Your parked car in the parking lot could be struck by a careless motorist who drives away. There are many possible manifestations, and these are just a few. It is a serious crime with the possibility of lengthy imprisonment and hefty fines.
Hit-and-run accidents have become a menace in New York City, involving drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and property owners. Once the offenders have fled the accident scene, the victims are often left to deal with the severity of the outcome and the cost of their medical care. There is no concrete answer as to what causes hit and runs or why they occur, but there are some factors said to contribute, such as:
A growing population means more people on the road, increasing the likelihood of car collisions and hit-and-run cases.
The fear of facing DUI charges on top of causing the accident prompts offenders to flee the scene.
A distracted driver or one using a phone while driving is committing a crime if they cause an accident. Most drivers who cause an accident flee the scene to avoid legal repercussions.
Other factors that might increase the likelihood of a hit-and-run include:
Being the most populated city in the country, New York records several accidents and deaths every year. Hit-and-run accidents increased by more than 25% in 2021, with more and more people reporting injuries and property damage.
Statistics from the New York Police Department show that more than 50,000 car accidents had occurred as of October 2022. More than 97,000 accidents occurred in 2021, mainly in Brooklyn and Queens. The numbers per borough are as follows:
More than half of the car accidents across the city lead to injuries, either minor or catastrophic. Brooklyn and Queens recorded the highest numbers, accounting for more than 60% of all crash-related injuries.
Hundreds of people die annually in New York due to car crashes, with 245 fatalities recorded in 2021. The number of fatal crashes increased in 2020 and 2021, regardless of the reduction in collisions from previous years. Brooklyn topped the charts once more, recording more than 30% of the fatal crashes occurring in the city in 2021.
Several factors contribute to the occurrence of accidents, and the most common ones include:
Despite the increase in hit-and-run accidents in the city, law enforcement officers make only a few arrests every year. Less than 10% of hit-and-run drivers who cause injuries are brought to justice. Only a winning law firm can help you create a strong case and get compensation for all the damage you incur in a hit-and-run accident.
You should seek legal representation immediately after you get involved in a car accident to ensure you get the justice you deserve.
As a witness, you can be in a position to help out car crash victims and determine the party at fault when it comes to contesting liability. You could testify in court or a deposition and give an account of what occurred at the scene. You can provide your statement to the police and any evidence you might have to help the investigation.
A professional attorney can guide you through the entire process and tell you what to do after witnessing a hit-and-run accident.
Some of the steps you should follow during such a car accident include:
If you witness a car accident while driving, safely pull over approximately 100 feet away from the scene. Turn on your hazard lights to allow other drivers and emergency responders to spot the accident.
Write down as much information as you can remember about the vehicles involved on your phone or a piece of paper. Take note of helpful information concerning the other driver that left the scene, such as the car model, driver’s description, and license plate number.
You should contact your local police department regardless of whether other witnesses at the scene have done so. You will need to describe the nature of the accident and provide location information. You will also have to know whether the people involved in the accident are conscious or have severe injuries.
You should not try to move an injured person or administer first aid if you are not qualified. Relocating a victim can cause further injury and complications. You are only allowed to do it if there is imminent danger, such as a fire or oncoming traffic. Let the experts handle emergency care unless they ask you to do so to avoid civil liability for worsening a victim’s condition.
Taking a few photos of the accident scene will help the victims in case they need them later to prove liability.
You should provide a witness statement with your contact information and other details once the police arrive. You might also have to give a detailed explanation of how the accident happened to the insurance providers to help prove liability.
You can leave a note with your contact details if you witness a minor accident, such as in the parking lot while the victim is not around. You should avoid starting a car chase with the hit-and-run driver to prevent further damage or putting yourself in danger.
The attorneys at Gregory Spektor & Associates have years of experience helping auto accident victims.
The stress of being in a collision rises when the other driver leaves the scene of the collision. In the event of a hit-and-run, you have a chance to get the justice you deserve with the help of a witness. Your lawyer will assist you in looking into the collision and compiling information to support your injury claim.
To help you obtain full compensation, they will work to establish all necessary legal requirements to demonstrate that the other driver was at fault for the hit-and-run accident. They will investigate your police report, determine the truth, and track down any witnesses who can aid in your recovery from the harm you sustained in the collision.
The knowledgeable personal injury lawyers at Gregory Spektor & Associates put in a lot of effort to make sure their clients receive the justice they are due. To help you win your case, we will draw on our depth of knowledge and experience. We’ll see that you receive payment for related expenses, including medical bills, lost wages, wrongful death damages, and pain and suffering.
At Gregory Spektor & Associates, we handle all the parts of your case and allow you to focus on healing and recovery. Call us today at 1 (888) 797-7735 for more information.
