How long does a hit-and-run investigation take?
There are few different investigations that may occur after a hit-and-run accident. When referring to the investigation into the fleeing driver, the length of the investigation will depend on a few factors. For example, it is safe to assume that the more serious your injuries, the more effort police will put into locating the driver. However, even some serious hit-and-run accidents present little hope of finding the other driver, and police officers may not be able to get an investigation off the ground unless they have something to go off of.
For example, if you were able to get a clear view of the vehicle that hit you, it can help police narrow down their search. It is even more helpful if you can also describe the driver, as there is no guarantee that the vehicle owner was the one driving at the time of the accident. There may be other important evidence that police officers can use in their search of the driver. For example, nearby surveillance cameras may have caught the accident on camera, or there may be debris from the other driver’s car left at the scene.
After a hit-and-run accident, you will most often file a claim with your own insurance company. So, in addition to an official police investigation, the insurance company will also conduct its own investigation into the accident. The insurance company will want to determine that the accident was covered under your policy and that your injuries were caused by the accident. The insurance company will also review your medical records to determine the severity of your injuries.
Often, insurance companies’ investigations are very biased, as they view everything in terms of how they can lower the payout to an injured motorist. For this reason, your Philadelphia car accident lawyer will also investigate the accident to ensure that the insurance company fairly assessed the accident and your injuries.
Hit-and-run investigations can vary significantly in terms of how long they take. However, the sooner you reach out to an attorney, the sooner the process will get underway.
