There’s a jolt, the crunch of metal, and by the time you look up, the other car is already turning the corner. A hit-and-run leaves you with damage, maybe injuries and no one to exchange information with. It’s an infuriating situation, but the next half hour matters a great deal. What you do at the scene, and the coverage you chose long before that day, will shape how smoothly you recover.
The Short Version
- Stay at the scene, get to safety and check for injuries. Don’t chase the other driver.
- Call the police and gather every detail you can: plate, vehicle description, witnesses and photos.
- If the driver is never found, your own policy is usually how you get paid.
- Uninsured motorist coverage and collision coverage are the main protections, and state rules vary.
First, Protect Yourself
The urge to follow the fleeing car can be strong. Resist it. A chase puts you and others at risk, and leaving the scene could create legal problems for you. Instead, take a breath and focus on what’s in front of you.
- Get safe. If your car can move and it’s safe to do so, pull out of traffic and turn on your hazard lights.
- Check for injuries. Look after yourself and your passengers. Some injuries, especially to the neck and back, don’t show up right away, so consider getting checked even if you feel fine.
- Call 911. Report the crash and request medical help if needed. Many states require a police report after certain accidents, and insurers often rely on one for hit-and-run claims.
- Write down what you remember now. Memory fades fast under stress. Use your phone’s notes app to record the other car’s color, make, model, any part of the plate, damage you noticed, the direction it went and the time.
- Find witnesses. Bystanders and other drivers may have seen the plate or the driver. Get names and phone numbers before they leave.
- Photograph everything. Capture the whole vehicle, close-ups of the damage, paint transfer from the other car, debris, skid marks, street signs and the surrounding area.
- Call your agent or insurer. Report the claim promptly. Some policies set deadlines for reporting hit-and-run accidents to police and to the insurer.
Pro Tip
Look around for cameras. Nearby businesses, traffic cameras, doorbell cameras and other drivers’ dash cams may have caught the other vehicle. Footage is often overwritten within days, so share these leads with police quickly. A dash cam of your own can be a worthwhile investment.
When You Come Back to a Damaged Parked Car
Many hit-and-runs happen in parking lots, with no one around. The same principles apply. Don’t move the car until you’ve taken photos, look for a note or witnesses, ask the property owner about security video and file a police report. The claim process is similar, though some coverages treat parked-car incidents differently, so ask your agent how your policy applies.
Why Drivers Flee
Leaving the scene of an accident is a crime in every state, with penalties that can include fines, license suspension and jail time. Drivers flee anyway, often because they have no insurance, are impaired, have a suspended license or outstanding warrants, or are driving a car that isn’t theirs. Those same reasons are why many hit-and-run drivers, even when found, may not have coverage that can pay for your damages.
How Your Insurance Can Help
If police identify the other driver and that driver has insurance, their liability coverage may pay for your damage and injuries. When that doesn’t happen, you’ll usually turn to your own policy. Here’s how the main coverages typically fit:
| Coverage | What it may help pay for | Things to know |
|---|---|---|
| Uninsured motorist bodily injury | Medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering for you and your passengers | Required in some states and optional in others; often applies to hit-and-run drivers |
| Uninsured motorist property damage | Repairs to your vehicle | Not available in every state; some states require physical contact or a police report; may have its own deductible |
| Collision | Repairs to your vehicle, regardless of fault | Optional unless your lender requires it; your deductible applies |
| Medical payments or personal injury protection | Medical expenses, and in some states lost income | Personal injury protection is central in no-fault states |
Whether a given claim is paid, and under which coverage, depends on your policy and the rules in your state. In some states, a hit-and-run collision with your car must involve actual contact, not just a car that ran you off the road, to qualify under uninsured motorist coverage.
Check Your Coverage
If you carry only state-minimum liability, you may have no coverage for your own car after a hit-and-run. Liability insurance pays for damage you cause to others, not damage done to you.
Even in a No-Fault State
No-fault states require drivers to carry personal injury protection, which pays certain medical costs through your own insurer regardless of who caused the crash. That’s helpful, but it may not cover vehicle damage or serious injury costs beyond its limits. Uninsured motorist coverage can still be valuable for filling those gaps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a hit-and-run claim raise my rates?
Because you weren’t at fault, many insurers don’t surcharge for a hit-and-run, but practices vary by company and state. Ask your agent how it’s handled.
Do I have to file a police report?
It’s strongly recommended, and many states and insurers require one for hit-and-run claims, sometimes within a short time frame.
What if police find the driver later?
Your insurer may pursue the other driver or their insurer to recover what it paid, and you may be able to recover your deductible as part of that process.
Don’t Wait Until It Happens
Find out now whether your auto policy would protect you after a hit-and-run. Callicott Insurance Agency can review your uninsured motorist and collision coverage with you.
This article is for general information only. Coverage and legal requirements vary by insurer, policy and state; review your own policy or talk with a licensed agent about your situation.