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How do people cover crash costs after a hit-and-run wreck?

On Behalf of | Jan 29, 2025 | Personal Injury |

One of the first things people do after a car crash (usually) is call the police. They know that they have to report the collision to local authorities. After filing a police report, they can then arrange to tow their vehicles and receive medical care.

They can also start considering their options for covering their collision costs. Typically, the driver at fault for the crash has to cover the cost of the collision. They do so by providing insurance. If they don’t have insurance or have an inadequate amount of coverage, then the people affected by the crash might file a personal injury lawsuit.

In a small percentage of crashes, the driver who caused a wreck proceeds to flee the scene of the crash. The situation then becomes a hit-and-run collision. How do people cover the costs of a hit-and-run crash?

By reporting the incident

State law requires that people stop after causing collisions, even if they only cause property damage. Those who flee the scene of a crash have broken the law. Police officers can investigate and may be able to locate the driver at fault for the wreck.

If that occurs, the driver who caused the crash may need to provide insurance coverage or could be at risk of a lawsuit. Reporting the incident to local authorities and providing as much detail about the hit-and-run collision as possible can help drivers improve the chances of police officers finding the other driver.

By using their own insurance

In some cases, people affected by hit-and-run collisions cannot locate the other party involved. They may then need to use their own insurance coverage to defray collision costs.

If drivers have comprehensive coverage or uninsured motorist protection, they can use their car insurance policies to cover the cost of a crash even though someone else was technically at fault for the wreck. Such claims are often complex and may be difficult for people to manage on their own behalf.

Understanding how to respond to a hit-and-run crash can help people avoid scenarios in which they end up saddled with a major financial burden due to the misconduct of another party. Drivers involved in hit-and-run crashes typically require support if they want to hold the right party accountable and recover their losses after the wreck, and that’s okay.