Hit-and-Run Accidents in Oklahoma

Even though most people know that it is illegal to leave the scene of a motor vehicle crash, hit-and-run accidents still occur frequently. There are many reasons why drivers flee the scene of crashes, such as having no license or car insurance, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, being afraid to get in trouble for the accident, or simply not realizing that they hit someone.

If you were involved in a hit-and-run accident, you should retain a Tulsa car accident lawyer as soon as possible to protect your legal rights and secure the financial recovery you need.

How common are hit-and-run accidents?

According to autoinsurance.com, around four million hit-and-run accidents occurred around the United States between 2015 and 2019. Therefore, hit-and-run accidents are unfortunately quite common. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety released informative data a few years ago, which showed the prevalence of hit-and-run crashes in each state. Per this data, there were 25 hit-and-run crashes in Oklahoma that resulted in at least one fatality in 2016.

Should you leave the scene of the accident?

OK Stat § 47-10-104 requires all drivers involved in accidents to provide their contact information and assist anyone who is injured. If a person fails to do this, they may receive criminal charges. Therefore, you should never leave the scene of an accident. You should stop your vehicle, move to a safe area out of traffic’s way, dial 9-1-1 to report the accident, ensure that no one is seriously injured, and wait for the responding officers to arrive at the scene to make a report.

Even if another driver flees the scene, you should never chase after them or put yourself in danger. Focus on remembering everything you can about the vehicle and driver who hit you.

What are the consequences of a hit-and-run?

If there is only vehicle damage and no injuries, the consequences of a hit-and-run include the following:

• A misdemeanor charge
• Up to one year of jail time
• A fine of up to $500

If there are non-fatal injuries, the consequences of a hit-and-run include:

• A felony charge
• Up to two years of jail time
• A fine of up to $1,000

If a fatality occurs, the consequences of a hit-and-run include:

• A felony charge
• Up to 10 years in prison
• A fine of up to $10,000

If the driver who fled the scene is caught, they may also be required to pay three times the amount of damage they caused through a civil action if certain criteria are met.

What should you do if you’re a hit-and-run victim in Tulsa?

If you are the victim of a hit-and-run accident, some useful precautions include:

• Remain at the scene: Even though you may be tempted to go after the other driver, you should remain at the scene. Move your vehicle into a safe place and contact the police. While you wait for the police to arrive, start writing down any information you remember about the vehicle or driver, including the color of the vehicle, make or model of the vehicle, characteristics of the driver, which direction they went, and license plate number.
• Document the accident scene: Take photos and record videos of your vehicle’s damage, your injuries, and the accident scene. If you notice anybody close to your accident scene who may have seen what happened, you can exchange contact information and ask if they would be willing to provide a statement about the other driver or vehicle that fled.
• Seek medical treatment: You may feel fine after an accident. However, it is strongly recommended to seek medical treatment. Most of the time, people become so worked up after a car accident that they do not realize they are actually in pain. In addition, symptoms can take hours, days, or weeks to appear, which can cause your condition to become worse without you even realizing that it exists. Therefore, you should visit the closest emergency room right away to rule out any injuries.
• Call your insurance company: Within the first 24 hours, you should call and inform your insurance company about the hit-and-run crash. It is recommended to keep this call as brief as possible as the purpose is merely to let the insurer know a collision has occurred.
• Hire a car accident attorney: Hit-and-run accidents usually cause a lot of confusion, as accident victims need financial compensation to pay for their damages but do not know how to get it when the person who caused their accident left the scene. However, an experienced car accident attorney can help you pursue the best course of action to get the financial help that you need as quickly as possible.

At Biby Law Firm Injury and Accident Lawyers, we can help you track down the driver who caused your crash and work with you to build a strong case against them. If we are unable to locate the driver, we can help you determine and pursue coverages you may have with your own insurance company. Our Tulsa car accident attorneys know the difficulties that hit-and-run accident victims often face, and we are ready to stand beside you every step of the legal process. You do not have to go through this alone. Call our office or submit our contact form to begin discussing with our team and learning about your legal options at your earliest opportunity.