What Is the Process for Filing an Insurance Claim After a Hit and Run?

The process for filing an insurance claim after a hit and run usually starts with safety, a police report, quick notice to your insurer, and a paper trail that shows what the crash did to your body, your car, and your routine.

A hit and run leaves you with a lot of questions and almost no cooperation from the driver who caused the wreck. A hit and run accident lawyer in Los Angeles can step in early, protect deadlines, and push the claim forward when the facts feel scattered.

The first few days after a hit and run can feel disorienting. Clear direction can help bring things back into focus.

What to Do in the First 24 Hours After a Hit and Run Crash in Los Angeles

Start with safety and a clear record. Move out of danger if you can, call 911, and ask for medical help if pain or dizziness shows up. A Los Angeles car accident lawyer can use that first report to anchor the claim.

Write down what you remember while it’s still fresh. Even rough notes about how the crash transpired can help later, especially when coverage questions come up. A Los Angeles personal injury lawyer can use those early details to piece together what happened.

Photos can also help fill gaps. Take a few that show the damage and the surrounding area, then move on. If someone stopped and offered help, grab a way to reach them before traffic pulls everyone apart.

Report the Crash and Protect UM Rights

When a driver takes off, uninsured motorist coverage comes into play because there is no one else for insurers to contact. California law addresses these situations directly. Insurance Code § 11580.2 lays out how coverage applies after a hit and run.

The law focuses on timing and documentation. A report to law enforcement generally needs to happen as soon as reasonably possible after the crash, and uninsured motorist coverage often depends on prompt notice and cooperation with policy requirements. 

Many insurance policies require a sworn statement within a short time frame, sometimes around 30 days, but the exact deadline depends on the policy terms and the circumstances of the claim.

Sometimes an officer comes to the scene, sometimes they don’t. What matters is having a report number tied to the crash, whether that happens roadside or later at a local station.

Start the Claim With the Right Coverage

Many people assume the other driver’s insurance pays. A hit and run places the claim under your own policy. UM coverage may apply to injuries caused by an unknown driver when statutory requirements are met.

When the other driver disappears, collision coverage can take care of repairs to your car. Medical payments coverage may help with early medical treatment if your policy includes it.

Ask your adjuster what benefits apply right now. Ask about rental coverage, towing, storage, and deductibles. Take notes during every call, including dates, names, and claim numbers.

When Should You Notify Your Insurance Company About a Hit and Run?

Notify your insurance company early after a hit and run. Even if you don’t have every detail yet, the claim still needs a start date tied to the crash.

That first call doesn’t finalize anything. It puts the incident on record while reports, repairs, and medical care begin to take shape.

Delays can make things harder than they need to be.

What Information Should Be Provided to Your Insurer After a Hit and Run?

The insurance review starts with basic facts about the crash. When those details stay accurate, the rest of the claim usually develops more smoothly as additional information comes in.

Information insurers usually ask for includes:

• Police report: The report number matters most. An officer’s name or agency helps if questions come up later.
  
• Your vehicle: Clear photos show the extent of the damage and the car’s condition after the crash, which can communicate impact better than words alone.
  
• Where it happened: Details about the location can help show what was happening around the crash, including whether cameras were nearby.
  
• Your injuries: Notes about how you felt after the crash and when treatment started help connect medical care to the incident without overexplaining it.

Keep anything related to the claim. Save emails, documents, receipts, and quick notes about how you felt or if you missed work. These can help when the details start to get unclear later.

Document Injuries and Financial Loss

The impact of a hit and run doesn’t always show up right away. Symptoms and added expenses tend to follow, and records help show what the crash affected.

Damages in a hit and run claim may include:

• Medical treatment: Care related to the crash, from early evaluations to ongoing treatment tied to lingering symptoms.
• Income loss: Wages missed because work became painful, unsafe, or temporarily out of reach.
• Vehicle expenses: Repair bills and related costs that follow when a car can’t stay on the road.
• Daily impact: Changes in sleep, movement, and ordinary activities that now require extra effort.

These details document the impact beyond the crash itself.

What Happens After You File

After a claim gets filed, insurers begin gathering records and reviewing vehicle damage. That review can move at different speeds depending on what information already exists.

Questions usually follow about the crash and any medical care tied to it. Those details continue to develop as treatment and repairs move forward.

Video footage from nearby businesses might exist for just a short window. When it does, it can influence how insurers view the collision.

Can a Hit and Run Claim Affect Your Insurance Rates?

A rate increase depends on the policy, the insurer’s rules, and how the claim fits within coverage. Some claims lead to premium changes at renewal. Some do not. Ask your carrier for a clear answer tied to your policy terms.

UM coverage comes from a policy in place before the crash ever happened. What ends up in the record afterward carries the claim forward when there is no other driver involved.

California Deadlines That Matter

California requires an SR-1 report to the DMV within 10 days when someone suffers injury or property damage tops $1,000. This duty applies even when another driver caused the crash. 

Civil deadlines apply as well. California courts allow two years for most personal injury lawsuits and three years for most property damage claims.

UM deadlines can move faster than court deadlines. Insurance Code § 11580.2 ties uninsured motorist recovery to timely reporting and cooperation with policy requirements. Many policies require a prompt police report and a sworn statement within a short time frame, but the exact deadlines depend on the policy terms and the circumstances of the claim.

Contact Vaziri Law, LLP, Today

A hit and run removes the cooperation that usually moves an insurance claim forward. The process for filing an insurance claim after a hit and run relies on clear records, firm deadlines, and careful documentation, with guidance from a Los Angeles hit and run accident lawyer.

At Vaziri Law, LLP, we bring trial readiness, more than $1 billion in results, and over 200 years of combined experience to cases that call for serious preparation. We work on contingency, so there is no fee unless we win. Call us today.