Advertisement

4 things you should do if you're involved in a hit and run

4 things you should do if you're involved in a hit and run

Hindsight is 20/20, but a police officer in St. John's is offering tips to ensure you won't regret doing the right thing after being involved in a crash.

Const. Geoff Higdon with the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary says it's understandable to look for the best in people, but warns if you're involved in a collision and the person involved doesn't appear to be truthful, there are things you can do to prevent being scammed.

A Mount Pearl woman was left with a large bill, after a vehicle hit hers on Kelsey Drive in St. John's, then took off.

1. Call 911

In the moment, you may not think of calling police if the crash is minor in nature. But Higdon said it's important to call police and provide as much information as possible.

"We encourage anyone who's involved in a hit and run to contact police at the time or as soon as possible, to provide us with as much information so we can do a follow up investigation," Higdon told CBC's St. John's Morning Show.

2. Gather information

Make sure you get the driver's licence plate number and a description of the person and their vehicle, in case they leave the scene of the accident.

Higdon points to an incident where a driver provides false information or says they don't have their insurance or licence on them following an accident.

"The other party assumes the best in a person and walks away with a phone number, only to find out the number is the local pizza joint," he said.

"It's driver beware."

3. Trust your gut

If you believe the person involved in the crash isn't being truthful, call the police to check it out, Higdon said.

"It's OK to be somewhat suspicious," he said.

"If you're not satisfied that the person isn't providing you real information, or they say they don't have [identification] on them and your gut tells you that something's not right, call us."

4. Don't follow the suspect

It may be tempting to follow a person who has just hit your vehicle and then sped off, but Higdon said don't do it.

"It's a safety thing," he said.

"What if the other driver is leaving the area in a high rate of speed and you're in a high rate of speed?"

Instead, call the police and provide any identifying information to them.