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Hit and Run: What to Do and What Happens Next
The other driver is gone — but your claim isn’t. Most hit-and-run victims are paid through coverage they already own and never knew they had. What you do in the first hour decides how smoothly that goes.
Plain-English answers to the questions crash victims actually ask.
The first hour: report and capture
Call 911 immediately. An investigation generally won't begin unless police are notified, and a prompt report is typically required for a hit-and-run insurance claim — sometimes within 24 hours.
Record everything about the fleeing vehicle while it's fresh: color, make, partial plate, direction, damage. Use a voice memo if your hands are shaking.
Look for cameras and witnesses. Doorbell cams, dashcams, and storefront footage overwrite within days — ask now and get contact info.
Who pays when there's no one to bill
Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage — treats the phantom driver as uninsured and is the main path for hit-and-run injury claims.
Collision coverage — repairs your car, minus the deductible, without identifying the driver.
PIP / Med-pay — pays initial medical bills if you carry it (and automatically in no-fault states).
A UM claim is still a negotiation with an insurer — your own — and they evaluate it like any other, so document your injuries thoroughly.
What happens next
Leaving the scene of an injury crash is a crime in nearly every state. If police identify the driver, a criminal case can strengthen your civil claim and may open a liability claim against the at-fault driver directly. Get the case number and pass it to your insurer or attorney.
If you only carry liability: you may have no coverage for your own car or injuries from a hit-and-run unless you add UM. It's one of the cheapest protections to carry.