What Should You Do If You’re the Victim of a Hit-and-Run Accident in Alabama?

Call the police, get checked out by a doctor, and talk to a lawyer before you say a word to anyone’s insurance company. Those three steps, done in that order, protect both your health and your claim.

Hit-and-run wrecks happen more often than most drivers realize. Attorney David Greene of Greene joined WKRG News 5’s Judge Knows to break down what to do when the other driver takes off, and what mistakes can cost you a settlement later.

How common are hit-and-run accidents, really?

More common than people think. Greene & Phillips sees them constantly on busy corridors like Airport Boulevard and similar high-traffic roads around Mobile. They’re not limited to two cars colliding, either. A parked car can get hit and left. A pedestrian can get struck and abandoned. Any time a driver causes damage or injury and leaves without stopping, it’s a hit-and-run, regardless of what kind of “accident scene” it looks like.

What should someone do immediately after a hit-and-run?

Stay at the scene. Call the authorities and get an official report started. Then get checked out by a doctor, even if you feel fine at first. After that, talk to a lawyer. Greene explains that looping in an attorney early, before decisions get made about insurance or treatment, can make a real difference in what you’re able to recover.

Can Greene & Phillips actually track down the driver who left?

Often, yes. Mobile has a lot of camera coverage between traffic cameras, business surveillance, and doorbell systems, and Greene & Phillips has access to a good number of them. In a lot of these cases, the firm can pull footage of the scene, piece together what happened, and identify the driver well enough to build a case.

What if the driver is never identified?

You still have options. The police report matters here too, since it documents that a hit-and-run occurred even without a suspect. From there, you may be able to make a claim under your own policy’s uninsured motorist coverage. A lot of drivers don’t realize they’re carrying this coverage until they need it, and it can put money in your pocket even when the at-fault driver is never found.

What’s the biggest mistake people make after a hit-and-run?

Talking to the other driver’s insurance company. Alabama follows a contributory negligence rule, which means if the other driver’s insurance adjuster gets you to say anything that suggests you were even slightly at fault, that can bar your entire claim. Greene is direct about this: don’t give a statement to the other side’s insurer. Call the police first, get medical treatment, and let an attorney handle communication with insurance companies from there.

And if someone needs help after a hit-and-run, how can they reach Greene & Phillips?

We make it easy. Stop by our office at 51 North Florida Street, no appointment needed. Or call or text us at (251) 478-1115 in Mobile, (205) 918-7800 in Birmingham, or fill out a contact form. And if you can’t come to us, we’ll come to you.