What to do after a hit-and-run
This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by state, and you should consult with a qualified attorney about your specific situation.
Someone hit you and left. Maybe you didn't even see it happen. Maybe you saw the car pull away and felt a sick mix of anger and helplessness as they disappeared into traffic. You're hurt. Your car is damaged. And the person responsible is gone.
That feeling — the violation of it, the injustice, the sense that you're left dealing with the aftermath alone — is real and it's valid. A hit-and-run is not just an accident. It's a crime. And it creates a different kind of problem than a regular car accident, because the other driver isn't there to exchange information, isn't cooperating with their insurance, isn't being held accountable in the usual way.
But here's what you need to know right now: the fact that they left doesn't mean you're without options. It complicates things, yes, but it doesn't leave you stranded. There are steps to take immediately, ways to document what happened, and paths to compensation that don't depend on finding the other driver. Let's walk through what matters and what you can control.
The First Call: 911 Is Not Optional
Unlike a regular fender-bender, a hit-and-run is a crime. That changes what you do first. If you're injured, call 911 immediately — just like you would for any accident. If no one is injured but you were hit and the driver fled, you still need to call 911 or your local police non-emergency line. This is not a call to your insurance company first. This is a police report first.
When you call, tell them exactly what happened. You were hit by another vehicle. The driver left the scene. Give them your location, describe what happened as clearly as you can, and tell them whether anyone is injured. If you're injured, emphasize that — it usually means an officer will respond faster and paramedics will come to document your injuries on scene.
The reason this matters: police create an official record of the crime. That record becomes your baseline documentation. It includes the time, the location, the fact that another vehicle hit you, and — if you can remember it — any details about the vehicle that hit you or the direction it went. This report creates a paper trail that matters for both the criminal investigation and your insurance claim.
Details You Need to Hold Onto
In the minutes and hours after a hit-and-run, your adrenaline is pumping and your mind is scrambled. But details matter. Your job right now is to capture as much as you can about the vehicle that hit you, and do it quickly.
What did the car look like? Color is the most obvious detail. If you can remember anything else — the make, the model, whether it was a sedan or an SUV, the condition of the car, any visible damage, dents, bumps, broken lights — write it down. Did you see a license plate, even partially? Did you catch a glimpse of the driver? Age, gender, any visible distinguishing features. Was anyone else in the car with them?
Which direction did they go? North on Main Street? Turned left onto the highway? Did they seem to speed up or drive normally? These details help police narrow their search. They also help reconstruct what happened if there are any witnesses.
Take photos of your car's damage right away. Get photos from multiple angles. If there's broken glass, skid marks, debris from the other vehicle, get photos of that too. If the collision happened on a street with traffic cameras or near a business with security cameras, note the location. If you're near a gas station, a grocery store, a bank, a restaurant — places that have surveillance footage — that location matters.
Write all of this down while it's fresh. Your memory will fade. Do it now.
Witnesses and Cameras
The moment something like this happens, people notice. Someone may have seen it. Someone may have a phone with footage. Nearby businesses may have security cameras aimed at the street.
If anyone witnessed the hit-and-run, get their name, phone number, and a brief account of what they saw. Don't have a long conversation — just collect information. "I saw the whole thing" is worth a name and number. "I heard a crash and saw a car pulling away" — get that person's information.
Then start looking around. Is there a business nearby? A gas station, a store, a restaurant, a bank? Go in and ask whether they have exterior security cameras that might have captured the hit-and-run. Some businesses will ask for a police report number before they release footage, but if you give them that report number, they're more likely to cooperate. If you can get camera footage or even know where it exists, that becomes enormously valuable. Footage shows what happened, what the vehicle looked like, where it went. It can be the difference between finding the driver and not.
Document which businesses have cameras and where. When you file the police report, mention the camera locations. Police can request that footage through official channels more easily than you can as a private citizen.
Your Own Insurance
Here's where it gets complicated and frustrating: your own insurance company may become your primary avenue for compensation. This is not how it's supposed to work, but this is the reality of a hit-and-run.
Call your insurance company as soon as you've called the police. Have your police report number. Tell them you were in a hit-and-run — emphasize that it's a hit-and-run, not just a regular accident, because that status affects how the claim is handled.
Most insurance policies include uninsured motorist coverage or uninsured motorist property damage coverage. Hit-and-runs fall into this category because you don't have the other driver's insurance information. You're essentially dealing with an uninsured or unknown driver. If your policy has this coverage — and most do — this is your path to compensation.
The adjuster will ask you to describe what happened. Tell them the truth about what you remember. Tell them the police report number. Tell them any details about the other vehicle. Your insurance company will investigate. They may send someone to inspect your car. They'll pull the police report. They'll try to determine what vehicle hit you.
If they can identify the other driver's insurance company, great — they can go after that insurance for reimbursement. But if the driver can't be identified, your uninsured motorist coverage should cover your medical expenses and property damage, depending on your policy limits and what your state requires.
Here's the hard part: many insurance companies will require you to have a police report of the hit-and-run in order to use uninsured motorist coverage. They may also require that you prove the hit-and-run happened, which basically means you need to show that the damage to your car is consistent with being hit by another vehicle. Document your car carefully. Take those photos. This is not optional.
Medical Attention — Same as Any Accident
Even though this wasn't your fault and you didn't choose to be in this situation, your body doesn't know the difference. You were in a collision. You need medical attention regardless of whether you "feel fine."
Get checked by a doctor, today or tomorrow. Even if you have no pain right now. Adrenaline masks injury. Some of the most serious injuries — concussions, internal injuries, spinal damage — don't always feel like anything in the first hours. A medical evaluation creates a documented record that you were examined immediately after the incident. That record matters both for your health and for your claim.
When you see the doctor, tell them what happened. "I was hit by another vehicle in a hit-and-run. I was hit on the [side of vehicle]." Describe any pain, any sensation that feels off, any concern you have. If you have no pain but you're worried about a head injury or internal bleeding, say that. Doctors take these concerns seriously.
Keep every medical record, every bill, every receipt. If you see a primary care doctor, go to urgent care, get X-rays, see a physical therapist — collect it all. Your insurance claim will need this documentation.
The Police Report and the Criminal Side
The police will investigate. They may follow up with you with questions. They may find the vehicle or they may not. This is the reality and it's unfair: police investigations into hit-and-runs are not always successful. The other driver might not be located. Depending on where you live, resources for tracking down hit-and-run drivers vary widely.
But the report itself — the document the police create — is yours. Once it's filed, you can request copies. You'll need this for your insurance company. You may also need it if you consult with an att
Some states have crime victim compensation funds. These are state-run programs that provide funds to people who've been injured as a result of a crime, including hit-and-run accidents. If the criminal
Uninsured Motorist Coverage: The Hard Conversation
If you have uninsured motorist coverage, that's good news. If you don't, this is the moment where things get harder. If you don't have this coverage, your own car insurance may not cover the damage, and you may be responsible for your own medical bills unless and until the other driver is found.
If you don't have uninsured motorist coverage and you're injured, consult with an attorney who handles car accident cases. You still have options, particularly if the injury is significant. An attorne
If you do have this coverage, your insurance company should explain how it works and what it covers. In many states, if the hit-and-run driver is never identified, uninsured motorist coverage kicks in. If the driver is identified later, the insurances can sort out who pays what. The key is documenting everything — the police report, the medical records, the damage photos — so your claim is as strong as possible.
When to Talk to an Attorney
Not every hit-and-run requires an attorney. If you have minor injuries, minor car damage, and good uninsured motorist coverage, your insurance company may handle the whole thing. But if any of these apply — you were injured and the injury is more than minor, your insurance company is being difficult about the claim, you don't have uninsured motorist coverage, the damage is extensive, or you're worried about how this is being handled — consult with an attorney who handles car accident cases.
An attorney can negotiate with your insurance company. They can help you understand your options if the other driver isn't found. They can advise you on victim compensation funds. In many cases, they work on contingency, meaning you don't pay anything upfront. Most offer free consultations.
An attorney also protects you from making mistakes in the claims process. Insurance companies are skilled at this. You're not. Having someone in your corner who understands the system and your state's specific laws matters.
You're Not Powerless
The hard truth about hit-and-run is that the person who caused this might never be held criminally responsible. They might never apologize. You might never get the satisfaction of seeing them face consequences. That's infuriating. It's unjust. You have every right to feel angry about it.
But here's what's also true: there are financial remedies available to you. Your insurance exists for exactly this scenario. Your state may have victim compensation. An attorney can help you pursue recovery. The driver's absence complicates your path to compensation, but it doesn't close it.
You've been wronged. And the system has mechanisms to make you whole, or at least to try. Use them.
Right now, the immediate steps are clear: call the police, document everything you remember about the vehicle and the crash, look for witnesses and security cameras, call your insurance company, get medical attention, and consult with an attorney if the situation is anything beyond straightforward. These steps put you in a position to recover, even without the other driver in the picture.
This wasn't your fault. And the fact that they left doesn't change what you deserve.
Learn Injury Law is an educational resource. We do not provide legal advice and we are not a law firm. The information in this article is general in nature and may not apply to your specific situation. Laws regarding hit-and-run accidents, insurance coverage, reporting requirements, victim compensation, and uninsured motorist coverage vary significantly by state. If you have been injured in a hit-and-run, we encourage you to consult with a qualified personal injury attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.