Hit-and-Run: What to Do | The Accident Advisory

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If someone hit you and drove off

Get safe and call 911 if anyone is hurt.
Your safety comes first — don't chase the other vehicle.
Write down anything you saw.
Plate, make, colour, direction of travel — even partial details help.
Look for witnesses and cameras.
Bystanders, nearby homes or businesses with CCTV, and dashcams.
Call the police and get a report.
An official report is essential for a hit-and-run claim.
Notify your insurer and see a doctor.
Your own coverage may help, and a prompt medical record protects you.

A hit-and-run adds insult to injury, but the steps that protect you are straightforward. This builds on what to do after a car accident, focusing on what changes when the other driver leaves.

Don't chase. The details you can capture from where you are — and the report you file — matter far more than catching up to the other car.

Don't chase — document instead

It is natural to want to follow, but chasing is dangerous and rarely helps. Stay where you are, make yourself safe, and put your attention into capturing everything you can: a partial plate, the vehicle type and colour, the direction it went, and the time and place.

What to document even without the other driver

Capture what you can

Any part of the plate, and the vehicle make, model and colour
The direction the vehicle left in, and the time
Damage to your own vehicle, and the scene
Names and numbers of any witnesses
Nearby cameras — homes, businesses, traffic or dashcams

Documenting the scene and filing a report after a hit-and-run — A police report and whatever details you can capture are the foundation of a hit-and-run claim.

Gathering evidence after a hit-and-run — Capture every detail you can — it is the foundation of a hit-and-run claim.

Why the police report matters

For a hit-and-run, a police report is more than a formality — it is usually essential to making a claim, and the sooner it is filed the better. Give the officers every detail you noted, and ask how to obtain the report number.

Getting advice after a hit-and-run accident — If you were injured, a free conversation can help you understand how your cover responds.

How you may still be covered

Even if the other driver is never found, your own policy may help. Uninsured-motorist coverage is designed for exactly this situation in many states, and collision coverage may cover your vehicle damage. What applies depends on your policy and your state, so check with your insurer.

When it's worth talking to someone

If you were injured in a hit-and-run, or your insurer is slow to help, a free, no-obligation conversation can be worth having — particularly to understand how your own coverage should respond.

Key takeaways

Stay safe and don't chase the other vehicle.
Capture any plate, vehicle and direction details, plus witnesses and cameras.
File a police report promptly — it is essential for a claim.
Your own uninsured-motorist or collision cover may help.
See a doctor, and get advice if you were injured.

Common questions

What should I do first in a hit-and-run?

Get safe and call 911 if anyone is hurt. Don't chase the other vehicle — instead, capture every detail you can and call the police.

Can I still claim if they're never found?

Often yes. Uninsured-motorist coverage is designed for this in many states, and collision coverage may cover your vehicle. What applies depends on your policy and state.

How important is the police report?

Very. For a hit-and-run it is usually essential to a claim, so file it promptly and note the report number.

I only got a partial plate — is that useful?

Yes. Partial plates, along with the vehicle make, colour and direction, can help. Give everything you noted to the police.

Sources & how we keep this accurate

Written and edited by The Accident Advisory editorial team and checked against the sources below. Last reviewed June 2026. (See our Editorial Policy.)

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — what to do after a crash. nhtsa.gov (accessed June 2026).
Insurance Information Institute (III) — uninsured motorist coverage and hit-and-run claims. iii.org (accessed June 2026).
USA.gov — reporting a car accident. usa.gov (accessed June 2026).

The Accident Advisory provides free, general information and is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This guide is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for advice from a qualified attorney about your situation. Fees, coverage and laws differ by state and by case, and change over time.