Do Police Investigate Minor Hit And Runs

Do Police Investigate Minor Hit And Runs

You’ve probably heard that if you hit a parked car, you should leave your contact information and drive away. Hit and run accidents involving parked cars are very common, especially in urban areas. But do police investigate minor hit and runs? This article explains if police will investigate minor hit and runs, what to do after hitting a parked car, and how much it might cost to repair the other person’s car.

Do Police Investigate Minor Hit And Runs?

Yes police typically investigate hit and runs (even if there’s only minor damage). There are two reasons for that: – 

  • Hit and runs can lead to serious injuries. Injuries can happen even if the damage to the other person’s car is minor.
  •  A person might not feel the injury at the time of the accident.
  •  In this case, the injury might only become apparent hours or days later. 
  • Hit and runs can also cause psychological damage such as PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder. – There’s often no way to determine who was at fault in a minor accident. 
  • In this situation, police officers can’t determine who was responsible for the accident unless they’re at the scene. And even if they’re at the scene, they might not be able to tell who was responsible unless the driver admits it.

When The Police Will Investigate A Minor Hit And Run?

The police will investigate a hit-and-run if someone gets hurt, if there’s a lot of damage or if the accident happens in a construction zone.

  •  If you were hit by a drunk driver, the police will investigate regardless of the damage. 
  • If you were hit by a driver who was distracted, but no one was hurt, the police may investigate if they think they can identify the other car. 
  • If you were hit by a driver who was using their phone behind the wheel, the police may not investigate the accident.
  •  If they know the other driver was distracted, they may want to take their phone away, but they won’t file a report. 
  • The only way to find out for sure whether the police will investigate your accident is to call them.

When Police Don’t Investigate Hit And Runs?

  • Police don’t typically investigate minor hit and runs, especially if there were no injuries and no damage to anything except the cars. 
  • In some areas, police may respond to a hit and run if it happened in a construction zone, but even then, they may not investigate.
  •  If the accident is serious enough to contact the police, you may be asked for your side of the story. However, there’s no guarantee that a police officer will file a report. They may not see the point in investigating a minor, unreported accident.
  •  If the other driver won’t exchange details with you, the police may still be able to help you identify the car, but again, they may not see the point in doing so. 
  • What if the person who hit you isn’t from your area? What if they’re a tourist? In cases like these, the police may not be able to do anything. 
  • If that’s the case, you may want to try other methods of finding the other driver.

What To Do After A Hit And Run?

  • First, make sure no one is hurt. If anyone is hurt, call an ambulance immediately.
  • If the accident is minor, try to exchange details with the other driver.
  •  If there are no other cars involved, ask for the other driver’s information, including their name and address
  • If there are other cars involved, ask the other drivers for their names and their insurance companies’ names. If you’re worried about your condition, ask a friend to take notes for you.
  •  If you’re alone, leave a voicemail with your name, phone number and an estimate of how long it will take for you to get home. 
  • If there are other witnesses, ask them to write down what happened.This can make it easier to exchange details later on.

What To Do After Hitting A Parked Car?

  • Stay calm. The first thing you should do after hitting a parked car is stay calm.
  •  After all, you’re in a situation that’s sure to make most people anxious. 
  • Please read our article about what to do when your car is damaged for more information.
  • Examine the damage. The next step is to examine the damage to both cars. If you’re not sure what kind of damage you caused, it’s a good idea to leave your name and contact information on a piece of paper inside the car along with a note saying you’re sorry. 
  • You should also write down your information so you can report it to your auto insurance company. Report the accident to your insurance company.
  •  Even if the damage is minor, it’s a good idea to report the accident to your auto insurance company.
  •  It shows them that you’re responsible and that you’re not trying to falsify information.

How Much Does It Cost To Repair A Minor Hit And Run?

There are a few different factors that affect the cost of repairing the other person’s car. These factors include the make and model of the car, the type of damage, and the type of repair shop the other person takes their car to. Because collision repair shops charge based on the time it takes to repair a car, minor repairs usually take the least amount of time. This means owners of the cars that got hit won’t spend too much money repairing their cars. In most cases, minor damages can be fixed for less than $500.

 Is It Worth Calling The Police?

  • Yes, it’s worth calling the police after hitting a parked car. 
  • The main reason for doing this is to protect yourself. 
  • If you hit a parked car and don’t report the accident to the police, there’s a chance the car’s owner could file a false insurance claim against you. 
  • If this happens, your auto insurance company will likely raise your rates. By reporting the accident to the police, you have proof that you didn’t cause the damage. 
  • If you hit a parked car, it’s always a good idea to check your car to make sure you didn’t cause any damage. 
  • If you did, even minor damage, you should report it to your insurance company. 
  • This helps protect you in case the other person’s insurance company decides to make a false claim against you.

Final Words

If you’re involved in a hit and run, you may be tempted to just forget about it. After all, the other driver won’t be caught unless you report them, and the police are unlikely to investigate unless there are serious consequences. However, it’s important to report accidents, even hit and runs, so that other drivers can be held accountable for their actions. Remember, even if no one is hurt, a hit and run is still a crime.