A hit-and-run is chaos compressed into seconds: a violent jolt, a vanishing taillight, and a rising mix of adrenaline and confusion. What you do right now matters—for your health, your case, and your ability to get your costs covered. If you’re searching “what to do after hit and run Colorado” or looking for a “hit and run lawyer Denver,” here’s a clear, step-by-step plan for the first 24 hours, crafted from the dual lens of an RN-trained injury lawyer: protect your body, preserve your evidence, and position your claim.
First 10 minutes: stabilize, see, secure
1) Get safe, then call 911.
Move yourself (and your vehicle, if drivable) out of live lanes. Turn on hazards. Call 911 to report a hit-and-run, describe injuries, and request police and EMS. In Colorado, crashes with injuries must be reported—and early reporting locks the incident into the official record.
2) Scan for injuries—then assume adrenaline is lying.
People often feel “fine” and then crash hours later. As an RN-led team, we advise a quick self-check (headache, dizziness, neck/back pain, numbness/tingling, vision changes). If you feel any red flags—confusion, severe headache, vomiting, weakness, shortness of breath—don’t wait. Get medical evaluation immediately.
3) Don’t chase.
It’s dangerous and can make things worse. Your best move is to capture identifiers and evidence while staying safe. Let law enforcement pursue the driver.
4) Capture what you can remember—fast.
Open your phone’s voice recorder and speak details while they’re fresh: vehicle color, type, partial plate, bumper stickers, damage location, direction of travel, distinguishing sounds (e.g., loud exhaust), and the exact time and intersection. The sooner you record it, the more credible it is later.
Next 30–60 minutes: evidence is everything
5) Photograph the whole scene.
Take wide shots first, then close-ups. Include: skid marks, debris fields, glass, paint transfers, your vehicle angles, signal heads, pedestrian signals, crosswalk markings, curb ramps, lighting conditions, and any blocked sightlines (parked trucks, vegetation, temporary signs). If you’re a pedestrian or cyclist, photograph shoes, backpack, helmet, torn clothing—these can become powerful biomechanical evidence.
6) Find the cameras (before they overwrite).
Video often overwrites within 24–72 hours. Start a quick canvass: corner stores, banks, gas stations, apartments, offices, parking lots, and bus stops. Note business names/addresses and politely ask managers to preserve video for the timeframe (e.g., 6:20–6:45 p.m.). Grab the store’s email so your attorney can send a preservation letter. If you have a dashcam (or the nearest rideshare driver does), make sure the file is saved and not auto-deleted.
7) Collect witnesses—names and phones first.
Ask bystanders for contact info and if they captured photos or video. Even a brief statement (“blue F-150, headed west, ran the red”) can decide a liability fight months later.
8) Lock down your own digital breadcrumbs.
Save crash-related data immediately: dashcam clips, smartphone location history, telematics (speed/braking) from your vehicle app, and fitness/watch data that shows abrupt motion or post-crash activity changes.
9) Get the case number.
If officers respond, ask for the case number at the scene. If they don’t, you’ll still need to report. (Most Colorado communities allow crash reporting through their police department or state portals; in Denver, there are specific reporting options and a records line to obtain your case number later.)
10) Seek medical care the same day.
Your health comes first—and medical documentation started today is the best antidote to insurer arguments like “you must have been hurt later.” Tell the provider it was a hit-and-run and describe the exact mechanism (rear impact vs. side swipe; thrown to the pavement, etc.). Ask for written work/ADL restrictions if needed.
The rest of Hour 1–6: build your “day-one” case file
11) Create a clean file (digital + paper).
Start a folder labeled with the date and intersection. Drop in photos, video, voice notes, the 911 call log (if available), contact cards, and a written narrative of what happened, while details are still crisp.
12) Write a symptom timeline.
Adrenaline fades; symptoms bloom. Track headache intensity, neck/back stiffness, dizziness, nausea, light/noise sensitivity, numbness/tingling, and sleep disruption. If you’re a cyclist/pedestrian, note bruising patterns, road rash areas, and any concussion signs. This timeline will later align with clinic notes and imaging.
13) Flag nearby footage for your lawyer.
List every camera you spotted with exact addresses and the employee you spoke with. Preservation letters are time-sensitive; counsel can send them the same day.
14) Notify your insurer (first notice of loss).
Most auto policies require prompt notice. Report the hit-and-run, but keep it factual and concise. Decline recorded statements until you’ve spoken with counsel. If you have UM (uninsured motorist), UIM (underinsured), MedPay, or collision, you’ll want those claims opened properly and sequenced correctly.
15) Preserve the damage.
Don’t rush to repair your vehicle or discard damaged gear until it’s thoroughly photographed (and, in serious cases, inspected). For pedestrians/cyclists: keep footwear, helmet, and torn clothing in a clean bag; they can be inspected for impact and friction evidence.
Hours 6–24: legal rights, insurance pathways, and what to avoid
16) Understand the legal structure (why it matters).
Colorado law imposes strict duties on drivers after accidents—stopping, exchanging information, rendering aid, and notifying police. When a driver flees, they may face serious traffic or criminal charges depending on injury severity. That matters to your civil claim because a hit-and-run finding usually aligns with negligence (and sometimes with punitive-damages analysis in egregious cases). But your civil recovery still turns on evidence tying that driver (or your UM coverage) to your injuries and losses.
17) Leverage your policy the right way (UM/MedPay/collision).
If the at-fault driver isn’t identified, UM can stand in for their bodily-injury coverage, and MedPay can pay medical bills regardless of fault. Colorado’s consumer-friendly UM/UIM statute has been interpreted to prevent insurers from using certain technicalities (like strict “physical contact” requirements) to wrongfully deny hit-and-run claims. That said, corroboration (witness, video, or physical evidence) remains critical—another reason your first-day evidence sprint matters.
18) Be careful with adjuster outreach.
Some UM carriers act like adverse parties in practice. Don’t guess on speed, distance, or fault; don’t minimize symptoms (“I’m fine now”). Stick to facts: date/time, location, direction of travel, property damage, and that the other driver fled.
19) Don’t post about the crash.
Insurers (and defense lawyers) scrape social media. Photos of you smiling at a barbecue the next day will be presented as “proof” you’re uninjured—even if you were pushing through pain for an hour.
20) Call a hit-and-run lawyer early.
Preserving video, sending legal holds, moving quickly on agency records, and correctly sequencing your UM, MedPay, and collision claims are time-sensitive. An RN-trained lawyer will also tighten the medical story so your chart shows causation, objective findings, and functional limits—not just “patient reports pain.”
What “winning evidence” looks like in Colorado hit-and-run cases
Scene forensics that align. Skid marks, debris, paint transfer, and crush patterns that tell a coherent story with your narrative.
Video with timestamps. Street corners, storefronts, parking lots, buses—angles that show the fleeing vehicle’s trajectory, light phase, and your position.
Telematics & devices. Dashcams, vehicle event data recorders, and smartphone location logs that corroborate route, speed, and braking.
Clinically legible injuries. Not just “pain 7/10,” but range-of-motion deficits, neurocognitive screens, vestibular findings, imaging (when indicated), and physician notes that use “more likely than not related to the crash on [date]” language.
Functional fallout. Employer letters, missed-work records, and activity-of-daily-living (ADL) limits that tie to your medical records.
Step-by-step checklist (printable)
Immediately (0–10 minutes)
- Move to safety; hazards on; call 911
- Quick injury scan; request EMS if needed
- Don’t chase the driver
- Record vehicle descriptors (color/type/damage/plate) & direction
- Photograph scene, signals, crosswalks, and your vehicle/body/gear
Within 1 hour
- Identify camera locations; ask businesses to preserve footage
- Gather witness names/phones; ask about photos/videos
- Save your own dashcam/phone data
- Obtain (or plan to obtain) the case number
- Seek same-day medical evaluation
Within 6 hours
- Build a digital folder for all evidence
- Write a clear, time-stamped narrative while fresh
- Start a symptom timeline (headache, neck/back, dizziness, etc.)
- Flag all cameras for your attorney’s preservation letters
- Notify your insurer (first notice of loss) without giving a recorded statement
By 24 hours
- Consult a hit-and-run lawyer about UM/MedPay/collision sequencing
- Preserve damaged gear/vehicle for inspection
- Avoid social media posts about the crash
- Line up additional medical follow-up (PCP, urgent care, or specialist)
- Provide your attorney with every file, photo, and contact you’ve collected
FAQs: “What to do after hit and run Colorado”
Will the police even investigate if my injuries are “minor”?
Investigation intensity often depends on severity and available leads. Your job is to create leads—footage, witnesses, partial plate, or distinctive vehicle damage. Early reporting and evidence preservation raise the odds of identification.
If the driver is never found, who pays?
Your own UM coverage is designed to stand in for the missing driver’s bodily-injury insurance. MedPay may pay initial medical bills regardless of fault. Collision handles your car repairs. Health insurance can be a backstop for medical care; coordination and subrogation need to be managed so you don’t leave money on the table.
Do I have to “prove” the other car touched me to use UM?
Colorado courts have criticized strict “physical contact” requirements that undercut the protection UM is supposed to provide. In practice, corroboration—witness statements, video, physical evidence—is key. Report promptly and gather proof.
How fast do I need to report to the police or my insurer?
Immediately is best. Colorado law expects notification to police after injury crashes; policies require prompt notice to your carrier. Waiting undermines credibility and risks losing video before it’s overwritten.
What should I say to my insurer in the first call?
Stick to facts: date/time, location, direction, vehicle description, that the other driver fled, and that you’re seeking medical evaluation. Decline a recorded statement until you’ve spoken with counsel.
What if I was a pedestrian or cyclist?
The same principles apply. In addition, keep your shoes, clothing, and helmet—they can show impact direction and forces, and often become persuasive exhibits.
Why an RN-trained hit-and-run lawyer helps
Medical clarity: We translate symptoms into diagnoses and objective findings, making your claim legible to adjusters and juries. Concussion? We push for neurocognitive and vestibular assessments. Radiculopathy? We ensure tests like Spurling’s or straight-leg raise are documented, with imaging where appropriate.
Coverage mapping: We audit all potential coverage—your auto (UM, MedPay, collision), resident relative policies, and any umbrella. We also sequence liability/UM so you don’t accidentally waive rights or accept the wrong check at the wrong time.
Evidence sprint: We send preservation letters to businesses, request public records, and coordinate expert inspections when needed. Day-one action protects day-90 leverage.
The bottom line
The first 24 hours after a Colorado hit-and-run are about speed and precision: protect your health, lock down the video, collect witnesses, and open the right insurance doors—without torpedoing your claim in a recorded statement. With the right moves and an RN-informed legal team, a driver’s flight doesn’t have to become your financial freefall.
If you’re in Durango or the Denver metro and need a hit and run lawyer, we’re ready to help—start to finish.
Sources & authority (links)
- Duties after accidents with injury or death (stop & remain): C.R.S. § 42-4-1601 (statutory text). Justia
- Duty after accidents with property damage (stop & remain): C.R.S. § 42-4-1602 (statutory text). Justia
- Duty to give notice, information, and aid (render aid; exchange info): C.R.S. § 42-4-1603 (statutory text). Justia
- Duty upon striking an unattended vehicle: C.R.S. § 42-4-1604 (statutory text). Justia
- Duty upon striking highway fixtures or traffic control devices: C.R.S. § 42-4-1605 (statutory text). Justia
- Duty to report accidents (notification to police authority): C.R.S. § 42-4-1606 (statutory text). Justia
- Colorado UM/UIM coverage basics (statute): C.R.S. § 10-4-609 (uninsured/underinsured motorist). JustiaFindlaw
- DPD reporting options & records info (police report & case number): Denver Police online reporting and Traffic Enforcement/Records pages. DenvergovDenvergov
- State crash reporting portal (public info + officer form context): CDOT crash reporting resources & link to DMV “Report a Crash.” Colorado Department of Transportation
- Colorado practice guidance on hit-and-run & UM (physical-contact limits and corroboration): Colorado Bar CLE handbook excerpt. Colorado Bar Association CLE
- Colorado insurance minimums (context): Colorado Legislature—mandatory auto insurance overview. Colorado General Assembly
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