You’re entering a busy parking lot trying to find a safe place to park. The ground is covered in snow, slush and ice. You slowly and carefully maneuver around the parking lot to find a safe place to park but your car slips and slides into another car. Bang!
Someone rear ends you as you’re exiting the freeway. Nervous and concerned about the damage to your vehicle, you pull to the side of the road only to watch the other driver speed away.
Winter weather is unpredictable and even though you drive safely and according to the road conditions, other drivers may not have the same caution.
Leaving the scene of an accident is a criminal offence. You need to stay at the scene of any accident, in a parking lot or otherwise. As the victim though, all you can do right now is to file a claim with your insurance broker and file a police report.
What to do on the scene of the hit-and-run accident:
Safety first. Make sure that no one in the care is injured and remain calm. Move the vehicle, if you can, to a safe location and call 9-1-1.
Record as much information as you can about the incident. This includes:
• The exact time and location the accident occurred.
• The other car’s make, model, colour and any part of the license plate number.
• If possible, a description of the driver.
• The direction the driver was headed.
• While you are waiting, take a few photos of your car’s damage and of the crash site. Use a time stamp if you can.
Handling a hit-and-run claim:
If the police attend the scene of the accident, provide them with all of the information you recorded about the accident.
Next, contact your insurance broker as soon as you can so that they can start the claims process.
Being in a hit-and-run accident is unfortunate, but it happens more often than you think. Get yourself to safely, call for help and fill in a police report.
Roughley’s team of insurance professionals is standing by to answer your call. If you have questions about your insurance, we invite you to call us and speak to one of our team members.
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Oshawa Location
Phone: 905.576.7770 • Toll Free: 1.888.558.0883
Fax: 905.576.3610
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Bowmanville Location
Phone: 905.697.4257 • Toll Free: 1.888.558.0883
Fax: 289.316.3662
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