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Hit-and-run accidents can be frustrating for victims. If a driver fails to stop at the scene of a crash, injured victims may struggle to identify the liable driver while managing issues related to vehicle damage, medical bills, and insurance. If you were injured in a hit-and-run accident, knowing what to do after a hit-and-run accident in Connecticut can help you know how to react in the days after the crash.
By taking certain actions after a hit-and-run accident, you can help preserve evidence, aid the police, and protect your right to seek compensation for your losses.
Weber & Rubano represents individuals injured in Connecticut motor vehicle accidents, including crashes involving drivers who leave the scene. With more than 20 years of experience, our Connecticut personal injury attorneys have assisted clients facing complex insurance issues, accident investigations, and injury claims.
Weber & Rubano has helped thousands of Connecticut residents pursue compensation after accidents caused by negligent drivers and other responsible parties.
After an accident, there are several important steps you can take to protect your interests. Seeking medical attention and following through with recommended treatment can assist in documenting injuries caused by the collision. It is also advisable to preserve photographs, repair estimates, medical records, and any information gathered about the fleeing vehicle.
If you haven’t already, you will likely need to inform the authorities and your insurance provider about the incident. Reviewing available documentation and maintaining organized records can support an insurance claim and any investigation related to the hit-and-run accident.
One of the most common concerns after a hit-and-run accident involves how medical expenses and property damage will be addressed when the responsible driver cannot be located. In some cases, an injured party may be able to file a claim with their own insurance policy, depending on the facts of the case and the coverages available.
The accident should be reported as soon as possible, as insurance companies usually require notice of a claim within a specified period of time. Police reports, photos, medical reports and records, and repair estimates may be useful in the claims process. Understanding the insurance coverage available under a policy can be an important part of recovering compensation after a hit-and-run accident.
Hit-and-run accidents often involve physical evidence that can play a role in the investigation. The information learned right after a crash may help investigators identify the vehicle. Witness statements, surveillance video, and traffic camera footage can be instrumental, as can photographs of the scene and the vehicle debris left behind. The evidence may include paint transfers, damaged vehicle parts, and partial license plate information.
Police reports can also help document the facts about a collision while they are still fresh in the minds of those involved. It can be important to collect and preserve whatever physical evidence is available. This can help to build a case both for the police investigation and for the insurance claim related to the accident.
Connecticut General Statutes § 14-224 mandates that drivers involved in specific types of accidents stop and adhere to certain legal requirements, such as providing identifying information and rendering aid when necessary.
The penalties for violating these obligations can range depending on the accident’s nature and whether it involved injuries, fatalities, or property damage. In Connecticut, hit-and-run offenses are considered severe due to the potential impact on investigations and the delay of help for injured parties.
Hit-and-run crashes are a major traffic safety issue. A 2026 AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study found that 15% of all police-reported crashes in 2023 involved a driver who fled the scene. This was the highest share in recent years.
Pedestrians and cyclists are at high risk of death or injury in hit-and-run crashes. Hit-and-run crashes can result in victims facing medical bills, vehicle damage, and not knowing who the at-fault driver is.
Traffic cameras, surveillance systems, and security cameras may also play a role in hit-and-run investigations by providing evidence after the fact. Businesses in the vicinity of an accident, intersections, parking lots, and private residences may have captured data about the flight path or vehicle description of the offending vehicle, including direction of travel, color, make, model, or license plate number.
Although not available in all cases, this type of camera footage can be an effective tool for investigation when present.
Thousands of people are impacted by motor vehicle collisions in Connecticut each year. In 2025, the Connecticut Crash Data Repository reported 243,932 individuals involved in reported motor vehicle crashes statewide. These crashes encompassed incidents from minor property damage collisions to accidents resulting in serious injuries and fatalities.
The high number of people involved in traffic accidents annually emphasizes the need for understanding documentation, insurance coverage, and steps to take after a collision.
You could file a hit-and-run claim even if you can’t identify the driver who was at fault in the collision. In some situations and with the right coverage, you could obtain coverage under your insurance policy for injuries, vehicle damage, and other losses that you suffered as a result of the accident.
Timely reporting and preservation of any available evidence can also be important steps to take when preparing to file a hit-and-run claim against an unidentified driver.
Hit-and-run accidents can leave victims wondering who was at fault. If you’ve been in a car accident, it is important to know your options and decide the right course of action. This includes knowing when to seek medical attention, how to file insurance claims, and how to handle the paperwork associated with an accident.
The proper steps to take after an accident vary from case to case, but if you are the victim of a hit-and-run, certain precautions may be in your interest and could help preserve important evidence. Weber & Rubano advocates for those injured in Connecticut motor vehicle accidents. Schedule a consultation today to hire a Connecticut hit-and-run accident lawyer.