Hit and Run - What to Do
If you can identity the driver
- If you are able to take down the license plate number and locate the driver of the vehicle that injured you, you may be able to recover damages from them or their insurance company. The driver may be identified by you, a witness to the accident or caught when they get their car repaired.
- If the driver's insurance coverage is insufficient you may have to file a claim under your own underinsurance coverage (if you have it).
If you cannot identify the driver or they are not insured
If you are unable to locate the driver responsible for the property damage and injuries you have sustained, it will not be possible to recover damages from their insurance company. Many times the drivers who flee the scenes of a crime are not insured anyway. In this instance, you will have to try to recover the cost of your loss through your insurance company under your uninsured or underinsured motorists' coverage.
Most uninsured motorist coverage will only cover hit and run accidents if your car was actually hit by the driver's car. You will also need to notify the police within 24 hours of the collision.
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