Hit and run claim: getting paid when the other driver fled
The driver drove off? Call for a free review of your claim.
After a hit and run, the claim usually goes to your own insurer. Uninsured motorist coverage pays when the other driver fled, the same as when they had no insurance, per the Insurance Information Institute.
Who pays after a hit and run
| Loss | Usually paid by |
|---|---|
| Your injuries, lost pay and pain | Your uninsured motorist coverage, up to its limit |
| Medical bills first, in a no-fault state | Your PIP. See no-fault states |
| Your car | Your collision cover, less the deductible or uninsured motorist property damage where sold |
| Everything, if the driver is found | The driver’s own liability insurer |
There were an estimated 737,100 hit-and-run crashes in 2015, about one every 43 seconds, per the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
Report it the same day
Call the police and get a report number. Insurers look hard at a hit and run with no police report, because there is no other driver to confirm it. Then tell your insurer in writing, within the notice time your policy sets.
Evidence that helps find the driver
- Any part of the plate, the make, the color and which way they went.
- Names and phone numbers of anyone who saw it.
- Doorbell, shop and traffic cameras nearby. Ask the same week, before footage is erased.
- Photos of paint transfer and the damage before any repair.
Your own insurer is now the other side
An uninsured motorist claim is still a claim. The adjuster works for the company paying it and prices it low. The same parts count: bills, lost pay and pain. Check the offer with the settlement calculator before you sign.
Pedestrians are hit too: a quarter of pedestrian deaths in 2024 came in hit-and-run crashes. See the pedestrian accident page.
Deadlines
Your state sets the deadline to sue, counted from the day of the crash.See your state.
A driver found later can still be sued within that window.
Hit and run claim questions
Who pays for my injuries after a hit and run?
Usually your own uninsured motorist coverage, if your policy has it. In a no-fault state your PIP pays first. If police find the driver, their insurer can owe the claim instead.
What if I only have liability insurance?
Liability cover pays other people, not you. Without uninsured motorist or collision coverage, your health plan pays your medical bills and the car repair is yours unless the driver is found.
How soon do I have to report a hit and run?
Call the police from the scene or as soon as you can. Your policy also asks for prompt notice of a claim; read its uninsured motorist part for the exact rule.
Can I still get pain and suffering after a hit and run?
Yes, through uninsured motorist coverage. It is figured like any injury claim, up to your policy limit.
Before you answer the adjuster
Camera footage is erased within days and your policy sets its own notice rules. Across the country, the window is two or three years in most places from the crash date to file. Call us 24/7 and keep the police report number.
Call about a hit and run(833) 716-6705
We answer 24/7, go over your claim free and link you to a car accident lawyer paid only if you win.