Watching the other driver speed away after hitting you is one of the most unsettling experiences on the road. Beyond the shock, a hit-and-run accident raises immediate practical questions: how do you file a claim when you don't know who hit you, and how do you protect yourself financially when there's no other driver to hold accountable?
Immediate Steps After a Hit-and-Run
If you're able, try to note any details about the fleeing vehicle before it disappears, including the license plate number, make, model, color, and direction of travel. Even a partial plate number can help investigators. Then take these steps:
- Call 911 and report the accident as a hit-and-run
- Check yourself and any passengers for injuries
- Move to safety if possible, but avoid leaving the scene before police arrive
- Look for witnesses who may have seen the fleeing vehicle or gotten a better look at it
- Photograph the scene, your vehicle's damage, and anything relevant like debris left behind
- Check nearby businesses or intersections for surveillance or traffic cameras
Filing a police report is especially important in hit-and-run cases, since it creates an official record that can support both a police investigation and your insurance claim, even if the at-fault driver is never identified.
Why the Driver Isn't Always Found
Despite police efforts, many hit-and-run drivers are never located, particularly when there are no witnesses, cameras, or identifying vehicle information. This can feel discouraging, but it doesn't mean you're without options. Insurance coverage, rather than a lawsuit against the fleeing driver, often becomes the primary path to recovering compensation in these situations.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage Can Fill the Gap
Many auto insurance policies include uninsured motorist coverage, which is designed to protect you when the at-fault driver can't be identified or doesn't carry insurance. If your policy includes this coverage, it may be able to compensate you for medical expenses, lost income, and other losses resulting from the crash, similar to how a claim against an identified at-fault driver would work.
Understanding underinsured motorist coverage is worth doing well before an accident ever happens, but if you're dealing with a hit-and-run now, it's worth reviewing your policy or asking your insurance agent whether this coverage applies to your situation.
What If You're a Pedestrian or Cyclist?
Hit-and-run accidents aren't limited to vehicle-on-vehicle crashes. Pedestrians and cyclists are frequently victims of hit-and-run drivers as well, and the same general principles apply: document everything possible, report it to police immediately, and look into what coverage might be available to you. If you were riding a bike when this happened, this guide on hit-and-run cyclist accidents covers some of the considerations unique to that situation.
Building Your Claim Without the At-Fault Driver
Even without an identified driver, a strong claim depends heavily on documentation. This is one of the reasons gathering evidence at the accident scene matters so much in hit-and-run cases specifically. Useful evidence can include:
- Photos and videos of the scene, your vehicle, and any visible injuries
- Witness contact information and statements
- Surveillance footage from nearby homes, businesses, or traffic cameras
- Paint transfer or debris from the other vehicle, which can sometimes help identify its make and model
- The police report documenting the incident
If the Driver Is Later Identified
Sometimes hit-and-run drivers are found after the fact, whether through witness tips, camera footage, or police investigation. If this happens, you may have the option to pursue a claim directly against that driver's insurance in addition to, or instead of, relying on your own uninsured motorist coverage.
When to Talk to an Accident Lawyer
Hit-and-run cases often involve navigating your own insurance company for uninsured motorist benefits, which can sometimes be more adversarial than you'd expect, since you're essentially asking your own insurer to pay out. An accident lawyer can help you understand your policy's coverage, push back against a denied or undervalued claim, and explore every available path to recovering compensation for your injury claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the hit-and-run driver is never found?
If your policy includes uninsured motorist coverage, you may still be able to pursue compensation through your own insurance company even without identifying the driver who hit you.
Will my insurance rates go up after a hit-and-run claim?
This depends on your insurer and policy, but because you weren't at fault, many insurance companies handle these claims differently than at-fault accidents. It's worth asking your insurer directly how a hit-and-run claim might affect your policy.
How long do I have to report a hit-and-run accident?
You should report it to police and your insurance company as soon as possible. Delayed reporting can make it harder to gather evidence and may create complications with your claim.
Being the victim of a hit-and-run can leave you feeling like you have no recourse, but that's rarely the full picture. An accident lawyer can help you understand what coverage and options are available given your specific circumstances.