Will Police Investigate a Minor Hit and Run in Utah?

No matter how minor, a hit-and-run is a serious offense in Utah and can still cause injuries and property damage. If you are the victim of a minor hit-and-run accident, it’s common to have questions. You might ask, “Will the police investigate a minor hit-and-run?”

The answer is yes; police will investigate the incident, and their investigation can help you receive the compensation you need after an accident.

The extent of the police’s investigation will depend on various factors, such as the severity of the damage, whether there were any injuries and the available evidence. However, they will generally perform a formal investigation for any hit-and-run for a few reasons:

• Fleeing the scene of an accident is a crime
• The perpetrator may have fled because they were engaged in other illegal activity
• The perpetrator may cause a more severe accident if not caught

How Do Utah Police Conduct Hit-and-Run Investigations?

When you report a hit-and-run to Utah police, they follow specific procedures to investigate the incident. As part of their investigation, police will use several strategies to collect evidence and identify the driver who fled the scene. Some of the ways they collect evidence include:

• Reviewing Traffic Camera Footage – Traffic cameras are often the first resource police use when investigating hit-and-run accidents. Traffic cameras are standard at intersections in many cities and towns across Utah. However, if your accident happened in a less populated area, there may not be any traffic cameras nearby.
• Gathering Witness Statements – If police can’t identify the driver through traffic cameras, eyewitness statements are the next best thing. Your statements and the statements of anyone else who saw the accident can play a significant role in the police’s investigation. The more information you can provide about the vehicle that struck you, the better.
• Using Social Media – Modern hit-and-run investigations sometimes involve social media. Police may post a description or picture of the vehicle in question and ask for the public’s help identifying the driver. Many police departments have limited resources for investigating minor accidents, so getting the public to help is a great way to make investigations more efficient.
• Checking the Surrounding Area – If police believe the hit-and-run driver is still in the area, they may check for cars with minor damage that match your description. If the driver doesn’t believe they’ll be caught, they may not take steps to hide their vehicle.

How Long Does a Minor Hit-and-Run Police Investigation Take?

The length of a hit-and-run investigation in Utah can vary significantly, depending on the circumstances of the incident. In cases with plenty of evidence, such as those that occur in a populated area in the middle of the day, it may only take police a few days to find the culprit.

However, in cases where there is less evidence, it could take police weeks or months to identify the driver. Sometimes, hit-and-run drivers are never identified due to a lack of evidence.

One way to potentially speed up the investigation is to provide police with as much information as possible. Some of the details that can be helpful are:

• The color, make, and model of the car
• The license plate number, even if you only remember part of it
• A description of the driver if you were able to see them
• The date, time, and location of the hit-and-run

Steps to Take After Being in a Hit-and-Run Accident

If you were in a minor hit-and-run accident in Utah, there are a few steps you should take to help the police identify the culprit and protect your right to compensation for any medical expenses and property damage. You should:

• Report the Accident to the Police – Always report vehicle accidents to the police so they can send someone out to investigate and file a collision report. You may need a copy of this report when filing your auto insurance claim. If you didn’t report the accident when it occurred, you can still report it after the fact and provide police with the details.
• Document the Accident – Take photos of your vehicle damage and any visible injuries you have. Also, write down everything you remember about the incident. Not only might this information help the police, but it can help you later on in your insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.
• Notify Your Insurance Company – Notifying your insurance company after an accident is the first step in filing a claim. It’s important to do this as soon as possible, as your auto insurance policy likely has a reporting deadline for filing claims. You should be fine if you notify your insurance within a few days.
• Keep Track of Medical and Repair Bills – Remember to keep all medical and repair bills associated with the hit-and-run accident so you can seek compensation through your insurance claim. A minor accident may not result in significant injuries or vehicle damage, but you still don’t want to have to pay out-of-pocket for any expenses. This is precisely why you’re paying for auto insurance.

Are Insurance Claims Different for Hit-and-Run Accidents?

Because Utah is a no-fault state for auto insurance claims, filing a claim after these accidents is similar to filing a claim after any other accident. In no-fault states, regardless of who is at fault for the collision, each party files their insurance claim with their own insurance provider.

Your insurance provider may request a copy of the police report to ensure the accident was a hit-and-run. Other than that, you should go through the same process as you would when filing any other car accident insurance claim.

Contact a Utah Hit-and-Run Accident Attorney

If you were the victim of a hit-and-run accident in Utah, securing the compensation you need for your injuries and property damage can sometimes be challenging. Insurance companies often try to provide lowball settlements, and if the hit-and-run driver isn’t identified, you can’t file a personal injury suit against them.

Call London Harker Injury Law at 77CARCRASH or contact us online for a free consultation with an experienced Utah car accident attorney. We’ll review your case, explain your options for seeking compensation, and investigate the incident to identify the culprit. Our attorneys have the legal knowledge and proven record of success to help you with your case.

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