First 5 Minutes
Check for injuries — call 911 if anyone is hurt
Look for the other vehicle — note anything you remember (color, make, model, plate, direction)
Start documenting immediately
What to Capture
✓Your vehicle damage — all angles, close-ups, wide shots showing surroundings
✓Paint transfer — the other car may have left paint on yours
✓Debris — broken glass, plastic, or parts from the other vehicle
✓Skid marks — direction and length
✓Your location — the exact spot, intersection, parking lot
✓Nearby cameras — look for surveillance cameras on buildings, ATMs, traffic lights
✓Witnesses — talk to anyone who saw it, get their contact info
✓Time — document the exact time you discovered the damage
For the Police Report
Officers need: location, time, all evidence of the incident, any description of the other vehicle, witness information, and your contact details. Timestamped photos prove exactly when you discovered and documented the damage.
For Insurance
Your uninsured motorist coverage or collision coverage typically covers hit and runs, but the insurer needs proof. Timestamped evidence showing the damage, location, and a police report number is the standard package.
The Parking Lot Hit and Run
Come back to a damaged car with no note? Document everything before moving the car — same first-10-minutes principles apply. Photograph from all angles. Check for paint transfer and debris. Look for cameras. Note every vehicle parked nearby. File a police report and insurance claim the same day.
