A fun time out and about can quickly head south and leave you vulnerable if you are side swiped by another driver. What's worse, the person in the other vehicle may add insult to injury by attempting to get away after striking you. If this happens, you have a hit and run case on your hands. With this in mind, you will need to jump into action and carry out a few important steps in order to protect yourself and get the legal backing needed for injury compensation. 

Stay Calm And Gather As Much Information As You Possibly Can

In a hit and run situation, every little bit of information that you can get helps. However, you will specifically want to key in on the license plate number, the year, make, model and color of the vehicle that sped off. Jot this information down before doing anything else so that you don't forget. You will then want to look around for and exchange contact information with anyone who may have witnessed the incident. These witnesses will be valuable as you build your case.

Look Out For Your Safety And Health

Once you have taken down information on the accident, you should get yourself to safety and begin taking note of any injuries you may have sustained. Keep your emotions in check and don't attempt to hunt down the other person. Instead, call the police so that they can put together an accident report and to get their help in tracking down the other driver. As you await the arrival of the police, get your vehicle out of any roadways, if possible, and park it in a safe location. If you can't move your vehicle, be sure to put your hazard lights on and exit your vehicle as you wait somewhere safe nearby. 

Get A Lawyer To Represent You

You'll need to get the help of a lawyer as quickly as possible so that you're able to represent your case in court. The person who struck you will be subject to both compensation for your injuries and punitive damages. Getting the help of a quality lawyer allows you to build the best case possible as you seek to pick up the pieces after an accident. These lawyers will typically charge you a contingency fee, which means that they take a portion of the winnings after the case is over, contingent upon a successful judgment. 

Follow this advice and reach out to a personal injury attorney in your area for more help. Many personal injury firms employ car accident lawyers in addition to medical malpractice lawyers.