December nights in Georgia mean packed shopping corridors, office parties, and more out-of-state drivers on unfamiliar roads. Unfortunately, they also bring a spike in hit-and-run crashes—rear-ends that speed off, sideswipes in mall traffic, and pedestrian strikes in dark lots. If the other driver disappears, you still have options. Here’s how to protect your health and your claim right now.
First hour: health first, proof second
- Call 911 and accept medical evaluation. Concussions and spine injuries often surface hours later; an early record ties symptoms to the wreck.
- Photograph everything: your car (all angles), the impact point, debris field, skid/scuff marks, lane lines, nearby signs, and lighting. Take a wide shot that shows traffic pattern and your final position.
- Scan for cameras and witnesses: doorbells, storefronts, parking-deck domes, transit buses. Ask managers to preserve video; many systems overwrite in days. Get names and numbers for anyone who saw the impact or a fleeing plate.
- Note transfer evidence: unusual paint on your vehicle, mirror/glass fragments, a lost trim piece—these can identify make/model later.
- Don’t post on social. Insurers may use out-of-context clips against you.
Report fast (it matters for insurance)
File the police report as soon as possible and notify your insurer promptly. Many policies require quick notice for hit-and-run benefits. Keep your incident number, tow and repair invoices, and a simple symptom log (pain levels, mobility limits, missed work).
Your insurance can still help
- UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist): Often covers injuries from a hit-and-run driver and may also help with property damage depending on your policy. Evidence like independent witnesses, video, debris, and 911 audio strengthens “phantom vehicle” claims.
- MedPay: Pays early medical bills regardless of fault—ER/urgent care, imaging, and some follow-ups.
- Collision: Handles repairs or total loss for your vehicle and may speed things up while we pursue the at-fault driver if later identified.
- Health insurance: Keeps treatment moving while liability is sorted.
Special situations
- Pedestrians & cyclists: Photograph the crosswalk or path, signal timing, lighting, and any vehicle blocking sightlines (delivery vans, rideshare). Keep your shoes/helmet; scuffs and residues can matter.
- Rideshare or delivery impacts: If a plate or logo was seen, note it; platform or employer coverage may apply once we identify the vehicle.
- Parking lots & decks: Ask for a written incident report from property management and request CCTV preservation in writing.
Common injuries and real losses we document
Concussions and post-concussive symptoms (headaches, brain fog, light sensitivity), whiplash and herniated discs, shoulder/knee injuries from bracing or twists, wrist/hand fractures, and anxiety about driving or walking at night. Recoverable damages can include ER and follow-up care, imaging and therapy, future medical needs, wage loss or diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, and damaged items (glasses, phones, child seats).
Mistakes that quietly reduce value
Leaving without a report or photos, waiting days to see a doctor, giving a recorded statement too early, throwing away damaged items, or posting about the wreck online. Keep communications factual and brief until you’ve spoken with counsel.
How Gunn Law Group proves hit-and-run claims
We move fast to lock down video, 911 audio, and traffic/dash-cam footage; canvass nearby cameras; and work with body shops to match paint or parts to specific makes/models. We map every available policy—your UM/UIM, MedPay, collision, and (if identified) the at-fault driver’s or employer’s coverage—so one minimal limit doesn’t cap your recovery. Then we coordinate with your medical providers to document the full impact on your life and negotiate from evidence, not guesses.
If a hit-and-run turned your holiday errand into a hospital wristband, don’t go it alone. Need a home run? Call the Big Gunn at 888-BIG-GUNN or visit thegunnlawgroup.com for a free case review.
