Tips for what to do if you didn’t get other driver’s info after accident

From a fender bender in the grocery parking lot to a major car crash—accidents, big and small, happen all the time. What can make matters worse is when you’re unable to get the other driver's information after an accident because of:

An unwilling driver

Forgetting to ask

A hit-and-run

These are all reasons why you may not be able to obtain information after an accident. To fill in the pieces, here’s what to do if you can’t get the much-needed details and how your car insurance can help.

What happens in a hit and run with insurance?

Traffic hit-and-runs, as reported in 2009 by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, occur every 60 seconds on U.S. roads. 

What is commonly  thought of as a hit-and- run? We learned from NextAdvisor that a hit-and-run is when folks in an accident leave without offering aid, sufficient information to the other driver, or fail to report the crash to authorities.

In the event of an accident like this, there are clear steps you can take—let’s run through them. 

• Get to a safe place, out of traffic

• Check for and speak to witnesses

• Call law enforcement

• Take photos

And of course, with a hit-and-run, it can be important to file a claim with your car insurance and let the claims team investigate the loss. Any information that you may gather  is important, but there are claims investigations that can attempt to identify the driver of the other vehicle in a hit-and-run.

Which type of insurance coverages can help when you’re not able to get the other driver’s information after an accident? 

If your car is damaged in a  hit-and-run, coverage may be found either under physical damage (Collision) or Uninsured Motorist Property Damage. Take a look at this article we wrote on the subject of accidents with an uninsured driver.

Your concern over whether or not a claim for a hit-and-run will impact your insurance rate is understandable. To be transparent, at-fault or not, any accident has the possibility of affecting your rate depending on the insurance company and how they price. 

Our biggest tip? Ask questions. We know the ins and outs of car insurance can be complicated, so don't hesitate to reach out to your insurer with your questions.

Now that we covered how insurance applies across hit-and-runs, let’s talk about what you can do if you didn’t (or couldn’t) get the other driver’s info after an accident. 

What happens if you don't exchange information after an accident

An accident can be chaotic and confusing—making you forget the important things, like exchanging information. If you forget to get the other driver’s info, here’s what you can do:

• Pay attention to things you can remember (license plate details, the location of the accident, or if there were any witnesses)

• Take pictures, if you can

• Notify your insurance company 

• Call authorities

What if you don’t forget? What if you’re in a situation with an aggressive or defensive driver who is unwilling to give you their information? Beyond the steps we mentioned, the best thing you can do in a tense moment like this is to remain calm and stay safe. 

Getting into a hit-and-run or an accident where you’ve forgotten to exchange details can be overwhelming. Let this be a reminder to review your car insurance policy today and ensure that you have the correct coverage for any circumstance that can help protect you and your car. 

The information in this article was obtained from various sources not associated with HiRoad®. While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. HiRoad is not responsible for, and does not endorse or approve, either implicitly or explicitly, the content of any third party sites that might be hyperlinked from this page. The information is not intended to replace manuals, instructions or information provided by a manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional, or to affect coverage under any applicable insurance policy. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. HiRoad makes no guarantees of results from use of this information.