Hit-and-Run & Uninsured Drivers

The driver who hit you is gone, or was never insured to begin with. Most people assume that ends the claim. Usually it does not — because in a hit-and-run, your own insurance policy becomes the case.

Your own coverage steps in

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage exists precisely for this moment. It stands in for the missing driver's insurance, up to the limits you bought — and coverage may also exist under a household member's policy or the policy on the vehicle you were in. In Virginia, “John Doe” procedures let the claim proceed against the unknown driver through your own carrier. Each jurisdiction has its own notice and corroboration requirements, and they are strict.

Act fast on two fronts

• Report immediately. Hit-and-run UM claims typically require prompt police reporting. The report also anchors the corroboration your carrier will demand.
• Chase the driver anyway. Cameras, partial plates, paint transfer, and canvassing sometimes find the driver — and with them, a liability policy nobody knew existed.

Remember whose side the carrier is on now

The moment you make a UM claim, your own insurer's financial interest flips: it profits by paying you less. Expect the recorded-statement request, the skeptical adjuster, and the lowball. Treat your own carrier exactly as you would the other side's — politely, and through counsel. How we handle UM and UIM claims →

Call (202) 524-0123 before you sign anything. The consultation is free.