What to Do After a Hit-and-Run in Pennsylvania

Being hit by a driver who then speeds off is infuriating, and it leaves you wondering whether you're simply out of luck. Often you're not. Here's what to do in the moment and how coverage can still work in your favor.

In the first minutes

1.   Get to safety and check for injuries; call 911. A hit-and-run involving injury or damage should be reported to police right away.

2.   Write down everything you can recall about the other vehicle — make, color, partial plate, direction it fled, any distinctive damage or markings — before the details fade.

3.   Look for witnesses immediately; someone may have caught the plate.

4.   Scan for cameras. Nearby businesses, traffic cameras, and doorbell cameras may have footage, but it's often overwritten within days, so it has to be tracked down fast.

Why the police report matters so much here

With a hit-and-run, there's no at-fault driver's insurance to pursue, so the record you create becomes central. A prompt police report documents that the crash happened, that another vehicle was involved, and that the driver fled — all of which can matter to the coverage that steps in. Get the report number and follow up on it.

Who pays if the driver is never found?

This is where uninsured motorist (UM) coverage generally comes in. Because there's no identified at-fault policy, your own UM coverage is designed to fill that gap — treating the phantom driver much like an uninsured one. Whether and how it applies can depend on your policy and on the circumstances of the crash, including, in some cases, whether there was physical contact or independent corroboration that another vehicle caused it. (Our uninsured/underinsured page goes deeper on how this coverage works.)

What if I only have minor damage but I'm shaken up?

Still report it, and still get checked out if you have any symptoms — the same delayed-injury reality applies to hit-and-run crashes as any other. And be careful about assuming a “minor” hit-and-run isn't worth documenting; the coverage that helps you later depends on the record you make now.

Talk it through with someone local. If you have questions about your own situation, the attorneys at Joyce, Carmody & Moran can review what happened and explain your options — no cost for the first conversation, and no obligation. We are based in Pittston and handle injury matters throughout Luzerne County.