What to Do in a Hit and Run Car Accident in Arkansas

If you are involved in a collision and the other driver speeds away, knowing what to do after a hit-and-run car accident is important. You should immediately move to safety, call 911 to get police and medical help, write down every detail you remember about the fleeing vehicle, and take photos of the crash scene.

Once emergency responders evaluate your injuries, inform your auto insurance provider and speak with an Arkansas car accident attorney before giving recorded statements. Taking these actions right away can help preserve physical evidence and protect your legal right to seek compensation under Arkansas law.

Harris Law Firm can guide you through what comes next, from dealing with insurance issues to understanding your legal options after a hit-and-run.

What Immediate Steps Should I Take at the Scene of the Hit-and-Run?

Knowing what to do in a hit-and-run car accident can feel confusing when emotions run high. You should stay calm and focus first on your safety and the safety of others.

Follow these essential steps following a hit-and-run collision:

Move to safety and call 911. Pull your vehicle out of active traffic lanes if it is operable, check all passengers for injuries, and contact first responders right away.
Write down details about the fleeing driver. Record the vehicle’s make, model, color, license plate number, including even a partial plate, and the direction the driver headed while the memory is fresh.
Photograph the crash site. Capture pictures and video of vehicle damage, paint transfers, shattered glass, skid marks, road conditions, and your visible injuries.
Speak with witnesses. Ask bystanders, pedestrians, and employees of nearby businesses for their names and phone numbers so the police and your attorney can contact them.
Request an official police report. Arkansas law requires drivers to report crashes involving bodily injury, death, or significant property damage to law enforcement, and the resulting police report can provide an essential record of the hit-and-run.

Never try to pursue a fleeing driver yourself. Chasing another motorist puts you and other people on the road at risk. Let law enforcement officers handle the investigation while you focus on preserving evidence and protecting your physical safety.

What Are the Driver Duties in an Arkansas Car Accident?

Arkansas statutes establish specific duties for any motorist involved in a motor vehicle collision that involves injury, death, or damage to an attended vehicle. Under Arkansas law, drivers are required to stop and remain at the scene, provide their name, address, and vehicle registration, show their driver’s license upon request, and render reasonable aid to any injured person.

Why Is Prompt Medical Care So Important?

Seeking a professional medical assessment right away is one of the most important parts of what you should do after a hit-and-run accident. The intense shock and adrenaline following an unexpected collision can mask injury symptoms, so you should seek medical attention even if there are no visible injuries or you don’t feel much pain.

Common crash injuries like concussions, internal bleeding, herniated discs, and soft-tissue whiplash may not cause severe pain until hours or days later. Delaying an evaluation may make insurance companies question whether an unrelated event caused your injuries or whether they are actually severe.

A doctor can create formal medical records that document your condition after the crash and can help connect your injuries to the collision, which may be used to support your case if you pursue compensation.

What Evidence Can Help Identify the Driver?

When an at-fault driver flees, identifying that person often depends on quick investigative work. While police will investigate the hit-and-run, your legal team can launch an independent investigation to uncover additional evidence.

Crucial evidence that can help identify a hit-and-run motorist includes:

Surveillance video. Security cameras at nearby gas stations, retail stores, banks, or private homes may capture footage of the fleeing vehicle.
Traffic camera footage. Some intersections have municipal or state cameras that record passing vehicles, license plates, and other useful details.
Paint transfer and physical debris. Broken lenses, loose trim, or matching bumper paint left on your car can help identify the year, make, and model of the suspect vehicle.
Eyewitness statements. Other drivers or pedestrians may have seen key details before, during, or after the hit-and-run.

Commercial properties frequently delete or overwrite surveillance footage over time. Physical evidence can easily be cleaned up and disposed of. Witnesses may forget what they saw. Moving quickly allows your attorney to issue formal evidence preservation notices and obtain statements before evidence is lost forever.

What Insurance Coverage Applies When the Driver Flees?

Many people wonder how medical expenses and property repairs get paid if the police cannot locate the other driver. If you find yourself in this situation, you may be able to look to your own auto insurance to recover compensation.

Key insurance options include:

Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage. In Arkansas, uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage can protect you when an uninsured driver or an unidentified hit-and-run driver causes your injuries, depending on the terms of your policy.
Medical Payments (MedPay) Coverage. Arkansas auto policies must provide specified first-party medical benefits unless the insured rejects that coverage in writing. MedPay helps cover immediate qualifying medical expenses for you and your passengers, up to policy limits, regardless of who caused the collision.
Collision Coverage. This coverage pays to fix or replace your damaged vehicle, minus your deductible, even if the other motorist remains unknown.

The coverage available under your policy can make an important difference when the hit-and-run driver cannot be identified or does not have insurance.

What Is the Deadline to File a Hit-and-Run Lawsuit in Arkansas?

You have limited time to take legal action after a hit-and-run. Arkansas generally imposes a three-year statute of limitations for personal injury and property damage lawsuits. There are limited exceptions to this deadline.

If you fail to file your lawsuit before this three-year deadline ends, you may lose your right to pursue compensation in court.

What Damages Can You Recover in a Car Crash Claim?

When you file an insurance claim or lawsuit arising from the crash, you can pursue compensatory damages for your losses caused by the collision.

Your financial recovery may include:

Medical expenses—emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgeries, prescription drugs, physical therapy, and future treatment costs;
Lost income—past missed paychecks and reduced future earning ability caused by long-term impairment;
Property repairs—the cost to repair your vehicle or recover its actual cash value if it is totaled; and
Pain and suffering—compensation for physical pain, emotional anguish, scarring, and loss of enjoyment of life.

A hit-and-run lawyer at Harris Law Firm can evaluate your losses and the insurance coverage available for your claim. We can then negotiate with the insurance company, working to secure the settlement you deserve.

FAQs About What to Do After a Hit-and-Run Accident

Is a Hit-And-Run Driver Automatically at Fault in Arkansas?

Leaving the crash scene does not automatically settle civil fault, because it does not, by itself, establish who caused the collision. Investigators and insurance companies review all evidence to determine how the crash happened.

What If Police Never Find the Hit-And-Run Driver?

You may be able to file a claim under your own uninsured motorist (UM) or collision coverage to pay for covered losses, depending on the terms of your policy. An attorney can handle your claim with your insurance company to help you pursue the coverage available to you.

How Long Do I Have to File an Accident Lawsuit in Arkansas?

Arkansas generally gives you three years from the date of the wreck to file a personal injury or property damage lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, the court may dismiss your case permanently.

What Should I Avoid Doing Right After a Hit-And-Run Crash?

Do not chase the fleeing car, do not leave the scene before reporting the crash to police unless you need emergency medical care, and do not provide recorded statements to insurance adjusters without understanding what is being requested. Staying calm and contacting a hit-and-run attorney in Arkansas can help you avoid the biggest mistakes after a crash.

Contact a Hit-and-Run Lawyer at Harris Law Firm Today

Since 1981, Harris Law Firm has provided legal guidance to clients throughout Arkansas and Mississippi. After a hit-and-run, our attorneys can investigate what happened, collect and preserve evidence that may help identify the fleeing driver, and determine what insurance coverage is available if the driver cannot be found.

We understand the uncertainty you face after a collision, and our team will answer your questions and work to secure the compensation you deserve. If a hit-and-run driver hurt you, contact us today to schedule a free consultation for your personal injury claim.

Legal References Used to Inform This Page

To ensure the accuracy and clarity of this page, we referenced official legal and other resources during the content development process:

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What to Do After a Hit and Run Accident