There are various auto policies available to cover the expenses resulting from hit-and-run accidents, including uninsured motorist coverage for property damage (UM PD), personal injury protection or medical payments coverage and collision.
Medical payments and PIP coverage may not be available in all states and a deductible may apply; UM/UIM and collision coverage is often mandatory in most states.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Hit-and-run accidents involve drivers striking your vehicle or another person before fleeing without providing any details about themselves or what caused the crash. While this situation may seem hopeless, there are insurance policies that may help you manage expenses associated with hit-and-run incidents.
Your coverages depend on both your policy and state laws; to establish whether they cover an incident of hit-and-run, speak directly to your insurer about what transpired – providing details like any witnesses and where the fleeing driver went following the accident. Furthermore, inquire whether state regulations require contact between parties before uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) and/or underinsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI) coverage applies in your situation.
When involved in a hit-and-run collision, first make sure that all parties involved are safe. Move your vehicle to an out of harm’s way location such as a shoulder. Note any specific features about the other car that could help the police later locate it; check local businesses to see if they have surveillance cameras; write down names and badge numbers of any responding police officers as soon as possible.
As soon as your accident has taken place, you should file an official police report as soon as possible. While you might be tempted to forego this step, doing so will allow you to file an insurance claim and receive reimbursement for injuries sustained in an accident and damages caused. Obtaining information on who was at fault can help avoid future complications while filing not-at-fault collision/UMBI claims could also reduce car insurance rates significantly.
Keep in mind that collision and UMPD coverage typically requires paying a deductible out of your own pocket before you can receive the remainder of the money needed for repairs or replacement costs. However, if a perpetrator is caught eventually your insurer can often apply their liability coverage against your claim without asking you for additional payments from you.
Medical Payments Coverage
Liability coverage included with your car insurance policy can provide some of the costs associated with hit-and-run accidents; however, this only pays out if the person responsible can be identified; otherwise you must turn to uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage or medical payments coverage as appropriate for help.
Medical payments coverage (MedPay) can help cover many injuries sustained in hit-and-run accidents, including health insurance deductibles and copays, visits to the doctor or hospital for injury-related treatments such as X-rays or surgeries, rehabilitation care or nursing assistance services and even some forms of medical equipment such as wheelchairs or prosthetics. Furthermore, MedPay may cover expenses for family members also injured during an incident.
MedPay coverage goes beyond covering medical bills; it may also assist in covering losses from an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver, including rental car costs after an incident involving hit-and-run drivers.
As such, it is imperative that you carry UM/UIM or MedPay coverage as part of your car insurance policy to protect against potential hit-and-run incidents. For more information on coverage in your state contact your Travelers independent agent or representative today.
If you are involved in a hit-and-run collision, the first thing you should do is check on yourself and any passengers for injuries before calling 911 to report the incident and provide any necessary details. When this step has been completed, seek medical attention immediately since car accidents often involve hidden injuries that take time to surface; don’t delay seeking care as injuries from car accidents may take some time before showing themselves; seek an examination immediately as any hidden injuries could take time before showing themselves; keep copies of all related medical records or bills related to the collision as this will speed up filing an insurance claim faster – maybe even before having all necessary details available can speed things along for filing an insurance claim faster – should an unexpected driver is caught or not!
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Coverage
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) car insurance provides benefits to cover medical bills, lost wages and other expenses in the event of a hit-and-run crash. Although not mandatory in all states, PIP may be available as an optional coverage. It will reimburse up to certain limits of medical expenses from at-fault drivers but cannot do this if no insurer exists to file claims with. In such an accident situation it becomes an invaluable protection.
PIP typically does not cover non-medical expenses such as loss of consortium, funeral costs and pain and suffering. Instead, its primary function is covering immediate medical needs and urgent expenses that arise quickly. Furthermore, it can act in tandem with your health insurance to cover out-of-pocket medical costs that don’t fall under its deductible or copayments.
Medical payments coverage (commonly referred to as MedPay) is available in no-fault insurance states that do not mandate PIP coverage. While it doesn’t cover lost wages, MedPay will cover hospital bills, funeral costs and other medical expenses resulting from an accident regardless of who was at fault. Furthermore, some non-medical expenses such as child care and transportation costs can often be covered as well as household help services and any miscellaneous costs you would otherwise be responsible for yourself.
Medical payments coverage (MPC), like Personal Injury Protection (PIP), typically does not require a deductible payment. MPC should be seen as a supplement to existing health plans rather than replacing them altogether.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, more commonly referred to as UM/UIM, is an invaluable addition for drivers in states that offer no-fault insurance policies. The minimum coverage provided by this form of protection typically is $25,000 per person and $50K per accident, covering economic losses caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver, including hit-and-run damage, as well as collision repairs following any collision regardless of fault – although depending on your state this may incur a deductible payment requirement.
Collision Coverage
Collision coverage provides financial coverage in the event that your vehicle collides with another car or object like trees and guardrails, without needing to determine fault for it. Please keep in mind, though, that some policies have an upfront deductible amount you must meet before their insurance company begins paying claims covered under your policy.
If a driver hits your vehicle without providing contact details or leaving any kind of mark behind, filing a collision insurance claim could be your only recourse. Depending on your insurer and policy limits, collision coverage could cover repair or vehicle replacement expenses up to their maximum limit; however, your deductible will still apply and affect how your claims payout is distributed.
If you experience a hit-and-run accident, calling the police right away is best practice to receive an accurate police report that contains essential details to support your insurance claims process. Being able to describe who caused it as well as when and where can help speed up this process significantly. Taking photos at the scene as well as recording any details like time/date of incident could prove extremely helpful when filing claims with insurance providers.
As soon as possible after an accident occurs, it’s crucial that you contact your insurance provider. There may be additional types of coverage that can assist with expenses related to an accident such as Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Medical Payment Coverage available; typically these provide help with lost wages, childcare and household costs while recovering.
Liability coverage won’t help when it comes to hit-and-run accidents, so it’s essential that you review your policy for uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage and collision coverage. These options are generally required by leasing or financing agreements and provide excellent means for covering the expenses related to hit-and-run incidents. Luckily, many policies offer very affordable rates even after filing collision claims; for more comprehensive auto coverage at an economical rate consider switching companies or switching policies altogether for better deals on auto coverage.