If a party refuses to share their information, do not escalate the situation. Immediately call the police to the scene to file an official report. A police officer can legally require them to provide their details. Also, use your phone to discreetly photograph their license plate, their face, their vehicle, and the overall scene. These photos provide crucial evidence. Report the refusal to your own insurance company immediately. They can often use the license plate number to initiate a search for the other party’s insurance details.

Fair compensation means you receive a monetary amount that puts you back in the position you would have been in if the injury or damage had never occurred. It is not about getting rich. It covers verifiable losses like medical bills, lost wages, and repair costs, as well as harder-to-quantify impacts like ongoing pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. The goal is to make you financially “whole” for both your economic losses and the personal toll the incident has taken on you.

Yes, contact your insurance company as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours. Provide them with the police report number and all the evidence you collected. This starts the claims process. Your own collision coverage or uninsured motorist property damage coverage typically applies in hit-and-run cases. Delaying this call can give the insurer a reason to question or deny your claim.