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Hit-and-Run Accidents: What to Do and What Coverage May Help

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Key takeaways
  • Your safety and medical care come first. Call 911.
  • Write down everything you remember about the vehicle right away: color, type, plate, direction.
  • Look for cameras and witnesses early, because video can be erased.
  • Uninsured motorist coverage on your own policy may cover hit-and-run injuries. Read your policy's conditions.
  • Tell your insurer promptly and keep all records.

Few things feel worse than being hit by a driver who simply drives away. You're hurt, rattled and left with no name, no insurance details and a lot of questions. What you do in the next hour and the next few days can make a real difference.

Here's a calm, practical walk-through. It's general information, not legal advice, and reporting rules and insurance terms differ by state and policy.

Right away

  1. Get to safety and check yourself and others. Move out of traffic if you can do so safely.
  2. Call 911. Police and medical help should be on the way even if you feel okay.
  3. Write down what you remember as soon as you can, even if it's only fragments: the vehicle's color, make, size, damage, partial plate numbers, direction of travel, time and what the driver looked like.
  4. Ask anyone nearby for names and phone numbers. Witnesses often remember details you missed.
  5. Photograph the scene, debris, skid marks, your injuries and your vehicle's damage.
Tip Paint transfer, broken light pieces and debris at the scene can help police identify a vehicle. Photograph them before they get moved.

Look for cameras fast

Nearby businesses, homes, traffic cameras and buses may have video. Many systems record over old footage after a short period, so ask quickly and tell the police where you think cameras are. Don't confront anyone or enter private property without permission, just give the police the leads.

Report it

Leaving the scene of a crash is illegal in most places when someone is hurt or property is damaged. Make a police report and get the report number. Insurers often ask for it, and some policies expect a prompt report for hit-and-run claims.

Get medical care

See a medical professional soon, even for symptoms that seem mild. Keep every record. These documents link your injuries to the crash.

Insurance that may help

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage on your own auto policy can reimburse you when you're injured by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver. It's the main route when the driver is never found. But policies set their own conditions. Some require police reports within a certain time, some have special rules about physical contact with the other vehicle or witnesses, and limits apply.

Other sources of help can include medical payments or personal injury protection coverage on an auto policy, your health insurance, and, for work-related crashes, workers' compensation. Learn more in our guide to uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.

Notify your insurer early Policies usually require prompt notice. Ask your insurer what they need and in what form.

If the driver is found later

If the police identify the driver, you may be able to make a claim against their insurance or against them directly. Keep your records organized in case that happens. Deadlines still apply, so use the deadline finder and confirm with your state's law.

Hit-and-run crashes also involve people on foot or on bikes. See our guide on pedestrian and bicycle accidents.

Frequently asked questions

Will my own insurance cover a hit-and-run?

Often, through uninsured motorist coverage, subject to your policy's terms and conditions.

What if I only got part of a license plate?

Give the police every detail you have. Partial plates, vehicle descriptions and camera footage can all help.

Do I have to report it to the police?

You should. A police report helps with investigation and insurance, and some policies require one.

How long do I have to file a claim?

Policies and states have different time limits for insurance claims and lawsuits. Check promptly.

Sources and references

  1. A Consumer's Guide to Auto Insurance, National Association of Insurance Commissioners, hosted by the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (tennessee.gov)
  2. Your state's official sources: the state legislature's online statutes, your state court system's self-help pages, and your state insurance department.

This article is educational and is not legal advice. We are not a law firm and do not refer or recommend lawyers. Laws differ by state and change over time. Read our Legal Disclaimer and Editorial Policy.