What To Do When The At-fault Driver Fled The Scene

Getting hit by a driver who immediately leaves the scene creates confusion and frustration on top of your injuries. You’re left dealing with damage and medical bills while the person responsible disappears. The good news is that you still have options for recovering compensation even if the other driver is never identified.

Our friends at Hickey & Turim, S.C. see hit-and-run cases regularly and understand the unique challenges they present. A personal injury lawyer can help you identify all available insurance coverage and build your claim despite the missing driver.

Immediate Steps After A Hit-and-Run

Your actions in the minutes and hours following a hit-and-run directly affect your ability to recover compensation later. First, check yourself and any passengers for injuries. Call 911 if anyone needs medical attention or if the crash caused significant property damage.

Stay at the scene if you can do so safely. Moving your vehicle or leaving before police arrive can complicate your insurance claim. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, hit-and-run crashes have been increasing, making proper documentation more important than ever.

Document Everything You Can Remember

While details are fresh, write down or record everything you recall about the incident:

• Time and exact location of the collision
• Description of the other vehicle (make, model, color, damage)
• Partial license plate numbers or letters
• Direction the driver fled
• Description of the driver if you saw them
• Road conditions and traffic patterns

Even partial information helps. You might remember only that it was a dark SUV or caught just two letters of the license plate. These details can aid police investigations and support your insurance claim.

Report To Law Enforcement Immediately

File a police report as soon as possible after the crash. Many states require reporting accidents that involve injuries or property damage above certain thresholds. Beyond legal requirements, you need that police report number for your insurance claim.

When officers arrive, provide them with all the information you gathered. Ask for the report number and information about how to obtain a copy. Insurance companies won’t process hit-and-run claims without official police documentation.

If you’re injured and transported to a hospital before police arrive, have someone else stay at the scene or call the police department later that day to file a report. Don’t let the absence of an immediate report stop you from creating an official record.

Check For Witnesses And Surveillance Footage

Other people may have seen the collision or the fleeing vehicle. Look for potential witnesses at the scene and get their contact information. They might have noticed details you missed or captured video on their phones.

Businesses and residences near the crash location often have security cameras. We recommend identifying these cameras quickly and requesting footage before it gets recorded over. Many systems only retain recordings for a few days or weeks.

Traffic cameras, dashcams from other vehicles, and doorbell cameras all represent potential sources of evidence. Ask nearby property owners if they’ll preserve footage for potential use in your claim.

Understanding Your Insurance Coverage Options

When the at-fault driver can’t be identified, you turn to your own insurance policy for compensation. Multiple types of coverage may apply depending on what you carry.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Most states allow or require insurance companies to offer uninsured motorist coverage. This protection covers your injuries when you’re hit by a driver who lacks insurance or can’t be identified. Hit-and-run situations fall under this coverage in most policies.

Your uninsured motorist coverage pays for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other injury-related damages up to your policy limits. These claims work similarly to claims against another driver’s liability policy.

Collision Coverage

Collision coverage pays to repair or replace your vehicle regardless of who caused the crash. If you carry this optional coverage, you can get your car fixed even though the other driver fled. You’ll pay your deductible, and your insurance company handles the rest.

Medical Payments Coverage

MedPay or medical payments coverage pays your medical bills regardless of fault. This coverage typically has lower limits but provides quick payment for treatment costs while you pursue your larger uninsured motorist claim.

Filing Your Insurance Claim

Contact your insurance company as soon as possible after the hit-and-run. Provide them with the police report number, photos of damage, and any evidence you collected. Your insurer will assign an adjuster to investigate your claim.

Insurance companies sometimes dispute hit-and-run claims, suggesting the damage occurred differently or questioning whether another vehicle was actually involved. This is why thorough documentation from the scene matters so much. The police report and witness statements become evidence that supports your version of events.

Your insurer may hire investigators to locate the other driver. They have financial motivation to find that person because they can pursue reimbursement for what they pay you. However, your claim doesn’t depend on finding the driver. Even if the other vehicle is never located, your uninsured motorist coverage still applies.

When Your Insurer Denies Or Undervalues Your Claim

Insurance companies don’t always pay hit-and-run claims fairly, even when you have proper coverage. They may dispute the severity of your injuries, argue that pre-existing conditions caused your symptoms, or offer settlements that don’t cover your actual damages.

We’ve handled situations where insurers claimed the accident didn’t happen as described or suggested our clients somehow contributed to the collision. These denials often come down to how well the claim was documented initially and whether legal representation gets involved.

Protecting Your Right To Compensation

Hit-and-run accidents shouldn’t leave you bearing the financial burden of someone else’s illegal actions. Review your insurance policy to understand what coverage you purchased, gather all evidence related to the crash, and don’t accept quick settlement offers without understanding the full extent of your injuries. If your insurance company isn’t treating your claim fairly or you’re unsure about your coverage options, getting legal guidance can help you access the compensation available through your own policy and protect your interests throughout the claims process.