What to Do After a Hit and Run Accident in Utah
How Is a Hit-and-Run Car Accident Defined in Utah?
According to Utah state law, a motorist must stop their vehicle if they are involved in an accident on public roads. Even if a police officer does not arrive, you must remain at the scene of the accident to assist any injured persons and to help create a police report in order to determine fault.
No matter if you are in a minor fender bender or a catastrophic pile-up, always stay at the scene of an accident until the police arrive or the drivers have exchanged information. The last thing you want to happen after a car accident is to be charged with a crime because you made a rash decision and drove away.
What Is the Penalty for a Hit-and-Run in Utah?
In Utah, leaving the scene of a car accident before the above criteria are met constitutes a hit-and-run and could expose you to criminal penalties. A hit-and-run accident that causes property damage could lead to a Class B misdemeanor in Utah. Class B misdemeanors can carry a jail sentence of up to 6 months and a fine of up to $1,000.
A hit-and-run that causes a personal injury, on the other hand, is a far more serious situation. At the very least, you risk being charged with a Class A misdemeanor. In fact, if the accident results in serious injuries or fatalities, you could face a third-degree felony.
A Class A misdemeanor can lead to a full year in jail and up to a $2,500 fine. If you are charged with a third-degree felony for the personal injuries you’ve caused in the accident you potentially face up to 5 years in prison and $5,000 in fines.
With so much at risk, the wisest choice you can make after a car accident is to stay and wait until it’s safe to leave the scene.
What to Do if You Are the Victim of a Hit-and-Run Accident
Remain calm
The best advice The Advocates can give after a hit-and-run collision, or any accident for that matter, is to remain calm. Check yourself first for injuries and then any passengers before exiting the vehicle. Call 911 if anyone is seriously injured. If possible, move your vehicle off of the roadway, either onto the shoulder or into a nearby parking lot.
Document the scene
Once you are certain no one is gravely injured and in need of urgent medical attention, do all you can to gather any information about the vehicle that hit you. This includes the license plate number, the make, model, and color of the vehicle, or a description of the hit-and-run driver.
Write this information down immediately or take photos/video if you can. It is important to quickly notate a brief description of what transpired since your memory may be fuzzy due to the shock of the accident.
Call the police
You should then call the police to file an accident report. Law enforcement will investigate the accident and try to find the at-fault driver—if you call immediately, they may be able to find the driver only a few miles away from the scene of the accident.
Get contact information from witnesses
While you wait for the officer to arrive, you should seek out any witnesses who may have seen the auto accident take place. Ask them for their names and phone numbers so they can later corroborate your side of the story. A hit-and-run is a criminal case in the state of Utah’s eyes, so the more witnesses and evidence you have to back up your version of the events the better.
Notify your car insurance provider
Finally, contact your own insurance company and notify them that you were involved in an accident, even if the crash wasn’t your fault. You may have no-fault auto insurance coverage that will cover bodily injury. You may also have uninsured motorist coverage on your insurance policy—this can help in the event of a hit-and-run crash.
Contact an Attorney with The Advocates
If you’ve been hurt in a hit-and-run accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and losses. The personal injury attorneys with The Advocates can help. We will help you build your case, prevent your medical bills from going to collections, negotiate with insurance providers, and get you the settlement you deserve.
Over the years, we’ve helped thousands of accident victims rebuild their lives again by getting back on the road to recovery. You’ll never be just a case number with The Advocates. We’ll treat your case as if you were a member of our own family.
Contact us today for a free consultation. You deserve an Advocate!