What to do after a hit-and-run

Reviewed by the Learn Injury Law editorial team

After a hit-and-run, call 911 immediately — hit-and-run is a crime in every state, and police need to document it as such. Document everything you remember about the vehicle, photograph your car's damage, and get witness contact information. Your own insurance handles hit-and-run claims through uninsured motorist coverage, which most policies include. Get medical attention within 24 hours regardless of how you feel.

Someone hit you and left. You're hurt. Your car is damaged. And the person responsible is gone. That feeling — the violation of it, the injustice — is real and valid. A hit-and-run is a crime, and it creates a different legal problem than a regular accident because the other driver isn't there to exchange information or be held accountable in the usual way. But the fact that they left doesn't leave you without options. There are immediate steps to take, ways to document what happened, and paths to compensation even when the other driver can't be identified.

Call 911 — This Is a Crime

Your first call goes to 911, not your insurance company — a hit-and-run is a crime in every state, and police create the official record that becomes your baseline for both the criminal investigation and your insurance claim.

If you're injured, call immediately. If no one is injured but another vehicle hit you and the driver fled, call 911 or your local police non-emergency line. Tell them exactly what happened: you were hit by another vehicle, the driver left the scene. Give your location, describe what happened clearly, and tell them whether anyone is injured. Emphasizing injury usually means an officer responds faster and paramedics come to document your injuries on scene.

The police report includes the time, location, the fact that another vehicle hit you, and any details you remember about the vehicle that hit you. This report creates a paper trail that matters for both the criminal investigation and your insurance claim.

Document Vehicle Details and Scene Information

Write down every detail about the vehicle that hit you immediately — color, make, model, license plate fragments, driver description, direction of travel — because adrenaline scrambles memory and these specifics directly affect whether police locate the driver.

What did the car look like? Note the color, make, model, whether it was a sedan or SUV, the vehicle's condition, any visible damage, dents, broken lights. Did you see a license plate, even partially? Did you see the driver — age, gender, distinguishing features? Was anyone else in the car? Write it down immediately.

Which direction did the vehicle go? North on Main Street? Left onto the highway? Did it speed up or drive normally? Take photos of your car's damage from multiple angles. Get photos of broken glass, skid marks, debris from the other vehicle. If the collision happened near traffic cameras or businesses with security cameras, note the locations — gas stations, grocery stores, banks, restaurants all have surveillance footage. Write down the specific businesses while you remember them.

Find Witnesses and Security Camera Footage

Witnesses and security footage are your strongest evidence — someone saw what happened, and nearby businesses with exterior cameras likely captured the vehicle.

The moment a hit-and-run happens, people notice. Someone may have seen it. Someone may have phone footage. If anyone witnessed the hit-and-run, get their name, phone number, and a brief account of what they saw.

Check nearby locations for security cameras. Go into gas stations, stores, restaurants, banks. Ask whether they have exterior cameras that might have captured the hit-and-run. Some businesses ask for a police report number before releasing footage. When you file the police report, mention camera locations and let police request the footage through official channels. Footage shows what happened, what the vehicle looked like, where it went. It's the single most valuable piece of evidence you can find.

Understand Your Insurance Coverage

Your own insurance company becomes your primary path to compensation through uninsured motorist coverage — call them with your police report number and emphasize that this is a hit-and-run, because that status affects claim handling.

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. If your policy has this coverage — and most do — this is your path to compensation.

The adjuster asks you to describe what happened. Tell them the truth about what you remember. Give them the police report number and any details about the other vehicle. Your insurance company investigates — they may send someone to inspect your car, pull the police report, and try to determine what vehicle hit you. If they identify the other driver's insurance, they can pursue reimbursement. If the driver can't be identified, your uninsured motorist coverage covers your medical expenses and property damage, depending on your policy limits and state requirements.

Most insurance companies require a police report of the hit-and-run to use uninsured motorist coverage. They also require proof that the hit-and-run happened — showing that your car's damage is consistent with being hit by another vehicle. Document your car carefully. Take those photos. This is not optional.

Get Medical Attention Immediately

See a doctor today or tomorrow regardless of how you feel — concussions, internal injuries, and spinal damage don't always present symptoms in the first hours, and a medical record from the day of the accident connects your injuries to the collision.

You were in a collision. You need medical attention regardless of whether you "feel fine." 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. Your insurance claim needs this documentation. If you see a primary care doctor, go to urgent care, get X-rays, see a physical therapist — collect it all.

File a Police Report and Understand Your Options

Police investigate hit-and-runs as criminal matters, but investigations aren't always successful — the report itself is your documentation regardless of outcome, and some states have crime victim compensation funds that cover medical bills and lost wages.

The reality is that police investigations into hit-and-runs are not always successful. The other driver might not be located. Resources for tracking hit-and-run drivers vary by location.

But the report itself — the document police create — is yours. Once it's filed, request copies. You need this for your insurance company and for any attorney you consult.

Some states have crime victim compensation funds — state-run programs that provide funds to people injured as a result of a crime, including hit-and-run accidents. Ask your police officer about victim compensation in your state. If the criminal investigation is unsuccessful, victim compensation may cover some of your medical bills and lost wages.

When to Talk to an Attorney

Consult an attorney if you're injured beyond minor scrapes, your insurance company is being difficult, you lack uninsured motorist coverage, or the damage is extensive.

If you have minor injuries, minor car damage, and good uninsured motorist coverage, your insurance company handles the whole process. But any of these situations warrant a call: you were injured and the injury is more than minor, your insurance company is being difficult, you don't have uninsured motorist coverage, the damage is extensive, or you're worried about how this is being handled.

An attorney negotiates with your insurance company, advises you on victim compensation funds, and protects you from making mistakes in the claims process. Most offer free consultations and work on contingency — you pay nothing upfront.

You're Not Powerless

The hard truth about hit-and-run is that the person who caused this might never face criminal responsibility. They might never apologize. You might never get the satisfaction of seeing them face consequences. That's infuriating and unjust. You have every right to feel angry.

But financial remedies are available to you. Your insurance exists for exactly this scenario. Your state may have victim compensation. An attorney helps you pursue recovery. The driver's absence complicates your path to compensation, but it doesn't close it. You've been wronged. The system has mechanisms to make you whole. Use them.

Right now, the immediate steps are clear: call police, document everything you remember about the vehicle and 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.

FAQ

What should I do immediately after a hit-and-run?

Call 911 or the police non-emergency line first — not your insurance company. Document everything you remember about the vehicle that hit you. Photograph your car's damage from multiple angles. Look for witnesses and security camera footage from nearby businesses. Get the police report number, then call your insurance company.

How does uninsured motorist coverage apply to hit-and-runs?

Hit-and-runs fall under uninsured motorist coverage because you don't have the other driver's insurance information. Most policies cover medical expenses and property damage up to your policy limits when you can't identify the responsible driver. You must file a police report to use this coverage.

What if I don't have uninsured motorist coverage?

Consult with an attorney immediately. You still have options, particularly if your injury is significant — victim compensation funds, potential recovery if the driver is later identified, and other avenues an attorney can identify based on your state's laws.

What information should I collect from the scene?

Every detail about the vehicle: color, make, model, body type, visible damage, broken lights, partial license plate. Note the direction the vehicle went. Collect names and phone numbers of witnesses. Document locations of nearby security cameras and the businesses that own them.

Will police find the other driver?

Police investigate hit-and-runs as criminal matters, but outcomes depend on available evidence and resources. Security camera footage and witness statements significantly increase the chances. Even if the driver isn't found, the police report enables your insurance claim and victim compensation applications.

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, uninsured motorist coverage, police reporting requirements, victim compensation programs, and insurance claim procedures vary significantly by state. Hit-and-run is a crime, and investigation outcomes depend on available resources and evidence. 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 as soon as possible.