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If another driver caused your accident but then left the scene, a hit and run accident claim without insurance in Jackson, MS could become complicated. If law enforcement can’t track down the driver who hit you and fled, you won’t have their liability insurance to go after.
Instead, an injured person’s uninsured motorist (UM) insurance could become a key source of compensation. The actions taken during the first 24 to 48 hours after a collision can be important.
Report the Hit and Run to Police Immediately
In 2021, Mississippi recorded 772 traffic fatalities, as noted in the state’s 2024 Strategic Highway Safety Plan. There were 703 traffic fatalities in 2022. From 2020 to 2022, there was a reduction in serious-injury crashes from 3,663 to 3,423, with some of these likely being hit-and-run accidents.
Under Mississippi hit-and-run laws, every driver who knows or should know they were involved in a crash must stop their vehicle at the scene. If injury or death results, drivers who willfully leave the scene without stopping can be convicted of a crime under Mississippi Code § 63-3-401. Penalties increase if the crash causes death or certain serious injuries.
Call the police after a hit-and-run and tell the officer every detail you recall about the other vehicle. That may include information such as a partial license plate number, color, make or model, direction of travel, noticeable vehicle damage, and a driver description.
Filing a police report soon after the crash also creates an official record that the collision occurred as a hit-and-run. That documentation could be important if police cannot identify the driver and you later seek compensation through a legal claim for uninsured motorist coverage.
Preserve Evidence Within 48 Hours
The immediate hours after a hit-and-run are critical, as proof of what happened can quickly fade. For example:
- Security video footage may be overwritten
- Witness memories may fade over time
- Physical evidence may be cleaned up or disappear over time
Preserve evidence such as dashcam footage from your car or others nearby, photos of the damage to vehicles and any scattered debris, contact details for any witnesses, and surveillance recordings from businesses and residences. If you’ve been in an accident on a busy Mississippi road like I-55 or I-20, or even a main street in Jackson, there’s a good chance nearby businesses have security cameras pointed at their lots or surrounding area.
An injured person should also notify their insurance company quickly after a hit-and-run. Under Mississippi Code § 83-11-10, most automobile liability policies issued or renewed in Mississippi must include coverage for uninsured motorist bodily injury. Medical records documenting injuries caused by the crash should also be preserved.
Hire a Hit and Run Lawyer
At Chhabra, Gibbs & Gustavis, P.A., we have served injured individuals across Mississippi since 1999. Our lawyers have over 130 years of combined experience handling personal injury cases, including hit and run cases. We communicate with you regularly, investigate your claim quickly, and file a legal claim to pursue every dollar of compensation you deserve, whether by negotiation or litigation.
You should hire a hit and run lawyer immediately after an accident. Although you should notify police right away, your Jackson hit and run attorney can help preserve evidence while the collision is fresh in everyone’s mind. Chhabra, Gibbs & Gustavis, P.A. can help. Contact us to get started.
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