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If you’ve been in a hit and run accident, you may be wondering if your car insurance covers hit and run accidents.

Not every insurance policy covers hit and run accidents, but if you have uninsured motorists coverage, you should be able to file a claim, even if you do not know who hit you.

If you need insurance coverage that protects you in the event someone hits you and runs, you can use our comparison tool right now!.

Hit and Run Car Accidents

Hit and run car accidents occur when a driver hits a moving or parked car or property and leaves the scene of the accident without providing any information to the other driver or property owner.

If caught, the hit and run driver could be subjected to criminal charges as well as civil penalties, including losing their license and being categorized as a high-risk driver in the future.

What to Do if You Are the Victim of a Hit and Run

If you are the victim of a hit and run, it is important to stay calm. If you saw the vehicle that hit you or damaged your property, write down a description of the vehicle, including the make, model, and color.

You should also write down where you think the other vehicle suffered damage during the collision. This information can help law enforcement officials find the hit and run driver and car.

• Check to See if the Driver Left His or Her Information – If you walk out to your parked car and notice damage, check to see if the driver left his or her information. If they did not leave their information or stay at the scene, it is a hit and run.
• Do Not Leave the Scene – Before you leave the scene, there are tasks you should accomplish in order to help your insurance company find the driver and help your claim move forward quickly.
• Call the Police – Like in a normal accident where the other driver stays at the scene, you should call the police and have them take a police report. The police report will describe the damage to your vehicle, the date and time of the accident and where the accident occurred.
• Take Pictures – Take pictures of your vehicle and the accident scene, especially if there is paint on your car from the other vehicle. Your insurance company will need your pictures in order to help them make a claim determination.
• Determine if There Were any Witnesses – Look around the scene and take note of anyone who might have seen the other driver hit you. If they are willing, have them write down their description of the events.
• Call Your Insurance Company – As soon as you are at a safe location, call your insurance company to report the hit and run and to file a claim. This works exactly the same as a claim in which the driver did not flee the scene. Your insurance company will ask for all the accident details, then they will investigate your claim

Types of Insurance that Will Help You if You Are Involved in a Hit and Run

There are two types of insurance that can help you in the event you are involved in a hit and run accident, including uninsured motorists coverage and collision coverage.

• Uninsured Motorists Coverage – This type of insurance coverage is designed to repair or replace your vehicle and repair and property damage if an uninsured motorist hits you.
• Collision Coverage – If you do not have uninsured motorists coverage but have collision coverage or if there is some debate as to whether you were the victim of the hit and run or the hit and run driver, you may be able to use your collision coverage to get your car repaired.

What You Should Do if You Hit Another Person or Another Person’s Property

Hitting another vehicle or person or damaging another person’s property with your vehicle and leaving the scene of the accident without leaving any of your contact or insurance information is a crime, and you could face fines as well as civil and criminal penalties.

• What You Should Do After Hitting a Car When the Driver is Not Around – If you hit a parked car or damage someone’s property and they are not around or you can’t identify them, you should write a note with your contact information and your insurance information and stick it in a spot where the other individual will see it.
• What You Should Do When the Owner is Around – If you can identify the owner or you sideswiped a car and pulled off to the side of the road, you should treat the accident as you would any other accident. Trade insurance information with the other individual and call the police to file a police report.

What Happens if You Hit and Run

If you hit another person or damage their vehicle with your vehicle and leave the scene of the accident, you have just committed a crime. Many states charge hit and run drivers with criminal and civil penalties for leaving the scene of an accident.

• Felony Charges – Some states classify hit and runs as felonies. A felony can earn you up to 15 years in prison and significant fines.
• Misdemeanor Charges – Misdemeanor charges are less severe than felony charges, but you could still find yourself in jail for up to 12 months and fines as high as $5,000.
• Civil Penalties – If you are caught, you could have your driver’s license suspended or revoked, and the other driver or property owner can sue you for accident-related damages and injuries.

Getting Insurance that Will Cover You in the Event of a Hit and Run

If you are worried that your current car insurance does not cover you in the event that you are the victim of a hit and run accident, you can use a comparison tool to quickly find policies that include uninsured and collision coverage as prices you can afford.

To start the process of finding an auto insurance policy that meets your needs, all you have to do is enter your vehicle’s information and your personal information as well as the information for any additional drivers.

Tell the tool the types of insurance policies you would like to view and submit the information.

The tool will return all the results that match your information and your search criteria. Once you have all the available policies in your local area, read through them to make sure they include everything you need them to include and are priced at an amount you can afford.

Once you have chosen a policy, go ahead and purchase it directly online.

Compare today by entering your zip code into our free quote tool below.

Auto Insurance FAQ

10.10.2020 / collision coverage / hit and run