Every figure in this article is traced to the sources listed under Sources.

Yes. In most U.S. states, a hit-and-run accident is generally treated as an uninsured motorist (UM) claim, according to court decisions and insurance industry guides, so your own UM coverage can pay for your injuries and, in some states, vehicle damage—provided you report the accident to police and your insurer within the deadlines set by your policy and state law.

Key Takeaway: Uninsured motorist coverage generally covers hit-and-run accidents, but the details depend on your policy and state. In 2023, 15.4% of U.S. drivers were uninsured, according to the Insurance Research Council. Many policies require you to report a hit-and-run to police within 24 hours and notify your insurer within 30 days, though deadlines vary. Without UM coverage, you would have to rely on other coverage, such as collision or health insurance, or pay medical bills and vehicle damage yourself. Check your declarations page for UM bodily injury and UM property damage coverage, and review your policy’s notice requirements before an accident happens.

Key Findings

  • 15.4% uninsured drivers (2023) More than one in seven U.S. drivers had no insurance, according to the Insurance Research Council’s 2025 study.
  • 24-hour police report / 30-day insurer notice Many policies require these steps after a hit-and-run, but the exact windows are set by policy language and state law.
  • UM bodily injury vs. UMPD UM covers injuries in every state that requires it; UM property damage (UMPD) may cover vehicle damage in some states, while others require collision coverage.

What happens when the at-fault driver flees?

When the at-fault driver leaves the scene, there is no other insurance company to pursue. Your UM coverage steps in to cover what the missing driver’s liability insurance should have paid. Depending on your policy and state law, that may include medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering. In some states, UM property damage (UMPD) may also pay for repairs to your vehicle up to its actual cash value.

The catch is procedural. Insurers and state statutes impose strict notice requirements. According to policy language cited in court cases, many policies require you to report a hit-and-run to the police within 24 hours and to notify your insurer within 30 days, though the exact windows differ. Missing a deadline can give the insurer a basis to deny the claim even when the facts are clear.

Hypothetical example: Suppose a driver has UM bodily injury limits of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. A hit-and-run driver causes $40,000 in medical bills. The UM coverage would pay up to the $25,000 per-person limit, and the driver may need to rely on other coverage or pay the remainder out of pocket. This is an illustration, not a real claim.

What changes by state or policy?

The core concept is national, but three details change at the state line. First, whether UM property damage (UMPD) covers a hit-and-run. Some states allow UMPD to pay for vehicle damage after a hit-and-run; others require you to use collision coverage instead. Second, the deadline for reporting. A policy might require police notification within 24 hours and insurer notice within 30 days, while a state statute might set a longer or shorter window for filing a claim or demanding arbitration. Third, whether stacking is allowed—whether you can combine UM limits across multiple vehicles on the same policy to raise the total available coverage.

Coverage that follows the driver
UM bodily injury Injury protection
May cover medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering when the at-fault driver has no insurance or flees.
Required in about 20 states and D.C.; optional or unavailable elsewhere. Check your declarations page for the per-person and per-accident limits.
Coverage that depends on the state
UM property damage (UMPD) Not universal
May pay for vehicle damage after a hit-and-run, but some states require collision coverage instead.
If you do not have UMPD or collision, you may have to pay for repairs yourself. Confirm what your policy says before an accident.

Compare coverage that fits your risk

Drivers shopping for coverage can compare quotes for the same limits and deductibles.

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What drivers should do now

These steps are based on the policy language and industry guidance described above. They are not a substitute for your own policy or state law.

Review your declarations page
Confirm whether you have UM bodily injury and, if available, UM property damage coverage.
Look for the per-person and per-accident limits. If you are unsure how much liability coverage you need, see how much liability coverage you need as a starting point.
Check your policy’s notice requirements
Look for language about police reporting, insurer notification and proof-of-loss deadlines.
These deadlines can decide whether a claim is paid. Write them down or save them where you can find them quickly.
Call the police from the scene
If it is safe to do so, get a report number.
A police report is often required for a hit-and-run UM claim. It also creates a record of what happened.
Notify your insurer promptly
Do it in writing if possible, and keep a copy of every communication.
A written record helps if there is a dispute about when you reported the claim.
Document the scene
Photographs, witness names, road conditions and visible damage.
Evidence can support your account when the other driver is unknown.
Ask how the claim will be handled
Ask in writing whether the claim will be handled under UM, UMPD or collision, and what deductible applies.
This clarifies which coverage is paying and what you may owe out of pocket.
If a claim is denied or delayed
Request the denial in writing with the specific policy provision cited.
Ask your state insurance department about complaint procedures. If a claim is closed without payment, learn what to do when a claim is closed without payment.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hit-and-Run UM Claims

Does uninsured motorist coverage cover hit-and-run accidents?

Yes. In most U.S. states, a hit-and-run is treated as an uninsured motorist claim, so your UM coverage can pay for injuries and, in some states, vehicle damage—provided you report the accident to police and your insurer within the deadlines set by your policy and state law.

What happens if I don’t have uninsured motorist coverage?

Without UM coverage, you would have to rely on other coverage, such as collision or health insurance, or pay medical bills and vehicle damage yourself. You could also try to sue an unknown driver, but that is often impractical.

The Bottom Line

Uninsured motorist coverage generally does cover hit-and-run accidents, but the coverage is not automatic. It depends on the coverage you purchased, the state where the accident happened and whether you met the policy’s notice deadlines. Check your policy now, before you need it.

This article is general information, not legal or financial advice and not a personal quote; for rules and complaints in your state, contact your state insurance department.

How We Verified This

We checked the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) fact page on uninsured motorists, which cites the Insurance Research Council’s 2025 study for the 15.4% figure and the one-in-three combined rate. We also opened a Wisconsin Court of Appeals document stating that “the majority of states provide UM insurance coverage” to claimants injured by an unidentified motorist, and the Michigan Supreme Court decision in DeFrain v. State Farm, which quotes a policy requiring a police report within 24 hours and insurer notice within 30 days. We reviewed Progressive’s explanation that some states do not allow UMPD to cover hit-and-run, requiring collision instead. The IRC’s full PDF and the NAIC consumer guide were not opened in this review; the figures they support were corroborated through the Triple-I page. A single nationwide deadline could not be confirmed because the windows are set by policy language and state law.

Reviewed against the cited sources and approved by the editor before publication.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not professional insurance, legal or financial advice. Rates, rules and deadlines vary by insurer, state and driver, and can change. Confirm details with a licensed agent, your insurer or your state department of insurance before making a coverage decision.

Sources

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