What to Do After a Hit-and-Run

After a hit-and-run, you need to contact the police, document the damage, and file an insurance claim to receive an insurance payout.

Athena Valentine Lent
Athena Valentine Lent

Athena Valentine Lent is a finance columnist for Slate and the author of Budgeting for Dummies (Wiley, 2023). Her writing has appeared in BuzzzFeed, The College Investor, GOBankingRates, Money Under 30, and Keeper Tax among other places. Her personal finance blog, Money Smart Latina, won the Plutus Award for "Best Personal Finance Content for Underserved Communities" in 2020 and was nominated for "Blog of the Year" in 2022. When not working she can be found with her main man, a polydactyl cat named Harrison George. 

Katie Powers
Edited byKatie Powers
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Katie PowersSenior Editor
  • Licensed auto and home insurance agent

  • 3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing

Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.

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Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin Halachev
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Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
  • 7+ years experience in data analysis

  • Ph.D. in Computational Biology

Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.

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If you’re the victim of a hit-and-run, you can file an accident claim through your car insurance company. Depending on your coverage, your insurer may cover some costs related to property damage, bodily injury, and more. Like all auto accidents, a hit-and-run can cause severe damage, including total loss of your vehicle, injury, and death.

Here’s what to do following a hit-and-run and what auto coverage can help cover the costs of vehicle damage and personal injury.

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What to do after a hit-and-run accident

Don’t panic if you find yourself in a hit-and-run accident. Given the circumstances, it’s essential to stay as calm as possible. You’ll want to act quickly so that you and any passengers receive compensation for resulting injuries and vehicle damage.

Good to Know

A hit-and-run is when a driver flees the scene after hitting another motor vehicle or pedestrian(s) without stopping to assess damage or exchange contact information.

1. Assess the situation and contact the police

After a hit-and-run, first check if everyone in the vehicle is OK. If you can, exit the car safely, but don’t leave the scene. Call 911 immediately to report your accident as well as any injuries and roadblocks preventing you from exiting the vehicle. If you can’t exit the car, wait until first responders arrive so they can retrieve you.

2. Gather evidence and take photos

Once you’re safe, document everything you can remember about the vehicle that fled the scene of the accident, including the car’s color, make, and model. Include the full or partial license plate number if you remember it, along with a description of the driver.

Photograph all angles of your car where you have damage.[1] Ask witnesses for details. If you physically can’t document the damage on your own, ask for help from law enforcement at the scene or call a friend. Ask for a copy of the police report so that you can submit this along with your claim to your insurance company.

3. Contact your insurer and file a claim

After you gather your documentation, it’s time to file your insurance claim. Auto insurers may allow you to file your claim over the phone, on your desktop, or through a mobile app. If you want to speak to a person, call the phone number on your insurance card and ask to speak to the claims department. You can also call your insurance agent if you have one.

Important Information

When filing your claim, include any medical bills you or your passengers may have received and the property damage caused in the accident. Submit a copy of the police report and photos of the damage to help speed up your property or injury claim. The time for your claim to process varies by insurer and claim, but it can take up to a few weeks or months.

4. Accept payment and fix your vehicle

An insurance adjuster will likely contact you regarding your claim and provide general information about the claims process. Upon approving your claim, your insurance company will send you a payment.

This may take up to 30 or 60 days, though the exact timing depends on your insurance company. You can use your insurance payout to help pay for your vehicle replacement or services at a repair shop.

Does car insurance cover a hit-and-run?

Car insurance can cover a hit-and-run incident, but it depends on how much and what types of coverage you have. You need to choose auto insurance that’ll cover you when you need it most.

If your state requires you to purchase uninsured motorist coverage, you may not need to purchase more than the state’s minimum liability insurance requirements to ensure protection in the event of a hit-and-run.

In most cases, you’ll need to purchase additional insurance beyond liability coverage, so you should understand how the following types of coverage can protect you. Collision, uninsured/underinsured motorist, personal injury protection (PIP), and medical payments insurance can cover you in the event of a hit-and-run accident.

Car insurance coverage for hit-and-runs

The following types of insurance can cover damages and injury in the event of a hit-and-run accident:

  • illustration card https://a.storyblok.com/f/162273/x/5285c4cd74/uninsured-or-underinsured-motorist-coverage.svg

    Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage

    Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage can include three types of coverage that can pay for your vehicle damage and physical injury: uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI), uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD), and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage. Some states require drivers to carry this coverage.

  • illustration card https://a.storyblok.com/f/162273/150x150/0ee044afbd/car-and-driving-96x96-orange_039-car-accident.svg

    Collision coverage

    Collision insurance covers your vehicle damage from a collision with another vehicle or an object, like a tree or parking fixture, regardless of fault. This optional insurance coverage will kick in to cover the cost of repairs following a hit-and-run accident. Your lender or dealer will usually require collision coverage if you finance or lease your vehicle.

  • illustration card https://a.storyblok.com/f/162273/x/e30eeeebc5/personal-injury-protection.svg

    Personal injury protection (PIP) coverage

    PIP insurance can cover expenses like loss of income, medical expenses, lost wages, child care costs, and funeral expenses. This coverage would kick in if you experience a hit-and-run accident. But it isn’t available in every state.

  • illustration card https://a.storyblok.com/f/162273/x/4c9753bdbe/medical-payments.svg

    Medical payments (MedPay) coverage

    Similar to PIP, MedPay can cover the cost of medical care or funeral costs for you and your passengers following an accident. Many states offer medical payments coverage, but only a few require it. Unlike health insurance, it doesn’t have a deductible.

Do you have to pay your deductible after a hit-and-run?

Yes, you typically have to pay your deductible after a hit-and-run, even though you aren’t the at-fault driver. If you have collision insurance — which can cover a hit-and-run accident — you’ll have to pay your deductible when you file a claim before receiving a payout. Your uninsured motorist coverage likely has a deductible as well, though the amount depends on where you live.

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Will a hit-and-run claim raise your insurance premium?

Unfortunately, a hit-and-run accident can affect your insurance rates, depending on your insurer, the size of your claim, and your level of fault in the accident. Especially if you did cause the crash, your insurer will typically take measures to protect itself, which can include increasing your premium to adjust for any new risks you pose.

If you’re not at fault for the accident, you may only face a small increase — or no increase at all. For example, you may lose a discount for having a clean record or remaining accident-free. Your rate change after a hit-and-run accident can also depend on state laws, your auto insurance policy terms, and whether you have other recent claims.[2]

Hit-and-run FAQs

It’s essential to understand how your current insurance coverage works and how much coverage you need in case you experience a hit-and-run. If you have questions about your coverage, you can review it while referencing the following questions.

  • Does insurance cover a hit-and-run?

    Car insurance can cover a hit-and-run, as long as you have the right insurance.

    Collision insurance can help pay for car repairs and a rental car following an accident, regardless of fault. Uninsured motorist bodily injury and property damage insurance can also cover your vehicle in the event of a hit-and-run or an accident with an uninsured driver. Medical payments and personal injury protection insurance can also cover some damages. State-minimum coverage won’t typically cover your vehicle damages.

  • Should you report a hit-and-run to your insurance company?

    Yes. You should report any car accidents, including a hit-and-run, to your insurance company. You have to file a claim to receive an insurance payout to cover your damages. It’s a good idea to file a claim as the victim of a hit-and-run because, if you have the applicable insurance policy, your insurer can help pay for your medical costs and personal property.

  • What is the criminal charge for a hit-and-run?

    A hit-and-run is typically a misdemeanor offense, though the specific conviction may vary depending on the state you live in, the severity of the accident, and the extent of bodily harm caused. In some cases, drivers may receive a felony charge.

  • Does insurance cover a hit-and-run for a parked car?

    Collision and uninsured motorist property damage coverage can pay for vehicle damage caused by a hit-and-run, even if the damage occurs to a parked car and doesn’t result in any injuries. Filing a police report and gathering evidence will help your insurance claim go smoothly and get you back on the road.

  • Are there any time limits for filing a hit-and-run insurance claim?

    Generally, you don’t have a set time limit to file a claim, but your state may require you to file it within a time frame of 30 or 60 days. But you should always file your claim as soon as possible. The longer you take to file, the more likely your insurance company may deny it.

Sources

  1. Insurance Information Institute. "How to file an auto insurance claim."
  2. NOLO. "Who Pays in a Hit and Run Accident?."
Athena Valentine Lent
Athena Valentine Lent

Athena Valentine Lent is a finance columnist for Slate and the author of Budgeting for Dummies (Wiley, 2023). Her writing has appeared in BuzzzFeed, The College Investor, GOBankingRates, Money Under 30, and Keeper Tax among other places. Her personal finance blog, Money Smart Latina, won the Plutus Award for "Best Personal Finance Content for Underserved Communities" in 2020 and was nominated for "Blog of the Year" in 2022. When not working she can be found with her main man, a polydactyl cat named Harrison George. 

Katie Powers
Edited byKatie PowersSenior Editor
Photo of an Insurify author
Katie PowersSenior Editor
  • Licensed auto and home insurance agent

  • 3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing

Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.

Featured in

media logomedia logo
Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
  • 7+ years experience in data analysis

  • Ph.D. in Computational Biology

Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.

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