Hit And Run Accident

What Does Hit And Run Accident Mean?

A hit and run is defined as the act of being involved in an accident and leaving the scene without identifying oneself or offering assistance to those who may need help as a result of the accident. Each country has its own laws regarding the penalties imposed on a hit-and-run driver.

Documenting the scene and contacting police quickly can make a real difference when you later file a claim, especially since the other driver is no longer there. The general steps for what to do after a car accident apply here too, with extra attention paid to writing down anything you remember about the vehicle that fled.

Insuranceopedia Explains Hit And Run Accident

Payment for hit-and-run claims typically comes through your own car insurance. In most states, the relevant coverages are uninsured motorist bodily injury and uninsured motorist property damage, which effectively serve as the hit-and-run driver’s liability coverage. Uninsured motorist bodily injury helps cover injuries resulting from a hit-and-run accident, while uninsured motorist property damage covers damage to your vehicle.

Hit-and-run drivers are essentially a subset of uninsured motorists from your insurer’s perspective, since either way, there is no one else to bill. Statistics on uninsured motorists show just how many drivers on U.S. roads fall into that category, which is part of why these coverages exist in the first place.