Getting hit by a driver who flees the scene can leave you with more than just injuries; it can also leave you with a long list of bills. From vehicle damage to medical expenses to lost income, the financial burden of a hit-and-run accident can be overwhelming, especially if the driver is never found. You might be left wondering how to pay for repairs or treatment when the hit-and-run driver can’t be held accountable.
That’s where legal support makes a difference. Good Guys Injury Law helps accident victims in Utah understand their options. Our team knows how to deal with insurance companies, track down compensation sources, and protect your rights.
Whether you’re filing a personal injury claim or seeking coverage through your policy, we work to reduce your out-of-pocket losses and guide you through every step. You deserve clear answers and real help after such a traumatic event.
Table of Contents
What Is a Hit-and-Run Accident?
A hit-and-run accident happens when a driver causes a crash and then leaves without stopping to give their information or help. This kind of behavior is illegal in Utah and can lead to serious consequences. The driver may flee the scene to avoid blame, arrest, or dealing with an insurance company.
Definition Under Utah Law
In Utah, the law says that if you’re involved in any car accident, you must stop, give your contact and insurance details, and help anyone who is hurt. This applies even if the crash seems small. A hit-and-run driver breaks this law by leaving the scene without doing any of those things.
Whether it’s a crash with another car, a bicycle, or even someone’s property, leaving without reporting is a crime. Victims of hit-and-runs often face high medical expenses, property damage, and stress from not knowing who will pay.
Common Hit-and-Run Scenarios
- Rear-end collisions: A driver hits your car from behind, then quickly drives away to avoid getting caught.
- Parking lot accidents: Someone damages your parked car and drives off without leaving a note or contacting you.
- Pedestrian strikes: A vehicle hits a person crossing the street and speeds away instead of stopping to help.
- Sideswipes on the road: A driver swerves into your lane, hits your car, and takes off before you can react.
- Hit-and-run after running a red light: The other driver breaks a traffic law, causes the crash, and flees the scene immediately.
Immediate Financial Impact of a Hit-and-Run
After a hit-and-run accident, the financial stress can start right away. You may need to pay for car repairs, medical care, or miss work due to your injuries. These costs can add up fast, especially if you don’t have the right insurance or if the hit-and-run driver is never found.
Vehicle Repair or Replacement Costs
If your car is badly damaged or totaled, fixing or replacing it can cost thousands of dollars. Without someone to hold responsible, you may have to rely on your insurance to cover the property damage. If you don’t have collision coverage, you could be stuck paying these costs out of pocket. Even a minor crash can result in broken parts or paint damage that needs professional repair.
Medical Bills for Injuries
If you suffer physical injuries during a hit-and-run, you may need immediate and ongoing care. That means hospital bills, tests, follow-up visits, and maybe even physical therapy. Some accident victims also need care for spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, or other severe injuries. These medical expenses can be hard to manage if you don’t have insurance or if your claim is delayed.
Lost Wages If You Can’t Work
If your injuries keep you from working, you may lose income. Missing even a few days can affect your ability to pay rent, bills, or take care of your family. For more serious cases, the time away from work can last weeks or months. If you’re self-employed, this can be even more challenging. You deserve help for your lost income, especially when the crash wasn’t your fault.
Emergency Services and Out-of-Pocket Expenses
Calling 911, riding in an ambulance, and going to the emergency room all come with high costs. You may also need to pay for medications, medical supplies, or transportation to doctor visits. These out-of-pocket expenses often aren’t covered unless you have the right insurance. Even then, the insurance company may try to pay less than what’s fair.
Long-Term Financial Consequences
While some bills from a hit-and-run accident show up right away, others can appear slowly over time and have an even greater impact on your life and finances, especially when medical care or work limitations are involved.
Ongoing Medical Treatment or Therapy
After a serious crash, many accident victims need long-term medical support such as regular doctor visits, physical therapy, medications, or even surgery, and these kinds of treatments can stretch on for months or even years, depending on the injury.
If you suffered a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or other severe injuries, the cost of ongoing medical care can grow quickly and become difficult to manage without strong insurance or financial support from a legal claim.
Permanent Disability or Reduced Earning Capacity
Some injuries never fully heal, and in those cases, your ability to earn a living can be affected for the rest of your life, especially if you’re unable to return to your regular job or perform tasks you once did with ease.
If the hit-and-run driver caused a disability, it’s not just a short-term issue; you could lose out on years of income, and this should be considered in any personal injury claim you file.
Higher Insurance Premiums
Even though the crash wasn’t your fault, your insurance company may still raise your monthly payments if you make a claim under your collision coverage or use your uninsured motorist coverage, which can be frustrating and unfair for someone just trying to get back on their feet.
These higher rates might last for several years, adding financial strain to an already difficult situation and making it even more imperative to explore your full recovery options.
Emotional Distress and Mental Health Care Costs
The emotional aftermath of a hit-and-run accident can be just as damaging as the physical injuries, and many people are left with lasting issues like anxiety, trouble sleeping, or a fear of driving that doesn’t go away on its own.
If you need counseling, therapy, or treatment for emotional trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, or other psychological struggles, those costs can add up, and they should be included in your claim, especially if you have medical records that clearly show the connection.
Does Insurance Cover Hit-and-Run Accidents?
After a hit-and-run accident, one of the biggest questions is whether your insurance company will help pay for the damage and losses, especially when the hit-and-run driver is never found.
Understanding your own insurance coverage is key to knowing what kind of help you can get.
Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage
Uninsured motorist coverage is one of the most important protections you can have, especially in cases where the other driver flees the scene and is never identified or caught. If you’re hit by a hit-and-run driver, your UM coverage can help cover the cost of your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and even property damage, depending on your policy limits.
Many people don’t realize that UM insurance is what steps in when there’s no one else to hold responsible, so having this coverage ahead of time can make a huge difference when something unexpected happens.
Collision Coverage
If your car was damaged in the crash, and the other driver can’t be located, your collision coverage may help cover the cost of repairs or vehicle replacement, even if it wasn’t your fault. While you may need to pay your deductible first, collision coverage is often the fastest and most reliable way to fix or replace your car after a hit-and-run accident, especially when the hit-and-run claim process through other means gets delayed or denied. Without this coverage, you might have to pay for repairs out of pocket.
Medical Payments (MedPay) or Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Some Utah drivers also carry Medical Payments (MedPay) or Personal Injury Protection (PIP) as part of their car insurance. These options are designed to help with medical bills, no matter who caused the accident.
If you were injured, MedPay or PIP could cover things like ER visits, hospital stays, physical therapy, and more, even if the hit-and-run driver is never caught. These policies are especially helpful when you need fast access to care without waiting for the full legal process to play out.
What If You Don’t Have the Right Coverage?
If you don’t have uninsured motorist coverage, collision coverage, or MedPay, your options can be limited. You may have to rely on your health insurance, but that usually only helps with medical expenses and not with things like property damage, lost wages, or pain and suffering.
In these cases, you could end up paying a lot out of pocket or needing to sue the hit-and-run driver if they’re found later. That’s why you must check your policy now and make sure you’re protected before something like this happens.
Filing an Insurance Claim After a Hit-and-Run
After a car accident involving a hit-and-run driver, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, confused, and unsure of what steps to take, especially when you’re hurt and the person responsible has disappeared. But filing a claim the right way can protect you from paying for everything yourself.
File a Police Report Immediately
If you are involved in a car accident and the other driver leaves the scene, it’s very important to call the police right away and file an official report. Not only does this help begin an investigation, but your insurance company may also require the report to move forward with your hit-and-run claim.
The sooner you file it, the more helpful details the officers can gather, such as witness statements, security camera footage, or debris from the accident scene.
Notify Your Insurance Company Promptly
Even though the car accident wasn’t your fault, you still need to let your insurance company know what happened as soon as possible. Waiting too long could hurt your ability to file a claim, especially if you’re trying to use your uninsured motorist coverage or collision coverage.
Tell them exactly what happened and that the other driver fled. Be honest and give them all the information you have, even if it seems small, it could help your case later.
Gather Any Evidence You Can
If you’re able to do so safely after the car accident, take photos of your vehicle, the accident scene, any injuries you have, and anything the hit and run driver may have left behind like paint scrapes or broken car parts.
If anyone nearby saw what happened, ask for their name and contact details. This kind of proof can make a big difference when filing a claim with your own insurance company, especially if there’s no other driver to speak for themselves.
Cooperate With the Investigation and Claims Process
During the days or weeks following the car accident, your insurance company may ask you for more information, updates on your medical expenses, or statements about how the crash has affected your daily life. You must respond quickly and completely so your claim doesn’t get delayed.
Cooperating with both law enforcement and your insurer can help move things along and increase the chances of receiving the fair compensation you need to move forward.
FAQs
Can I still get compensation if the hit-and-run driver is never found?
Yes, you may still be able to recover money through your insurance policy. This often depends on the coverage you have, like uninsured motorist or collision coverage. In personal injury law, these cases are treated seriously, especially when you’ve suffered injuries and property damage.
What if the at-fault driver is found later? Can I still file a lawsuit?
Yes. If police identify the at-fault driver, you can file a lawsuit to recover your losses. This could include medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. An experienced auto accident attorney can help you build your case and take legal action if needed.
How can I prove the emotional and psychological impact of the accident?
You can document things like stress, anxiety, or changes in your daily life. A doctor, counselor, or therapist can also provide proof of your emotional and psychological impact. In many car accident cases, these non-physical damages are just as vital as physical ones.
Will my insurance rates go up even if I wasn’t at fault?
Sometimes. Even if the at-fault driver fled and you did nothing wrong, some insurance companies may still raise your rates after a claim. This depends on your provider and the type of coverage you have. A lawyer can help protect your rights during this process.
Do I need a lawyer for a hit-and-run accident?
Yes, working with an experienced auto accident attorney can help you understand your options and avoid common mistakes. They can handle the insurance claim, deal with paperwork, and work to get you the fair compensation you deserve under personal injury law.
Contact Our Utah Car Accident Lawyer for a Free Case Consultation
If you were hurt in a hit-and-run accident and don’t know how you’ll cover the costs, you’re not alone. These accidents can leave you dealing with medical expenses, lost income, and even long-term stress, especially when the at-fault driver is never found. That’s why it’s so important to get legal help right away, so you don’t miss your chance to recover what you’ve lost.
At Good Guys Injury Law, we’re here to help people just like you. Our team understands how hit-and-run cases work in Utah and how to deal with the insurance company to make sure they treat you fairly. We can guide you through the personal injury law process, explain your rights, and help you avoid paying out of pocket for something you didn’t cause.
Call now for a free consultation with an attorney who truly listens. You don’t have to go through this alone.
