Every year, there are thousands of hit-and-run accidents in the U.S., and you will never know if you might be the next victim. Unfortunately, many hit-and-run drivers are never found and charged. Not surprisingly, those who are, often have no insurance to pay for their damages. That leaves you – the victim – responsible for your own losses. Continue reading to find out who pays for a hit-and-run and how it affects any personal online car insurance quote you may get in the future.
Who Pays for a Hit-and-Run?
The State of Wisconsin requires that all drivers carry a minimum amount of uninsured motorist protection. This type of car insurance provides payment to you and your passengers if you are injured in an accident caused by an uninsured driver or a hit-and-run driver. Currently, the minimum uninsured motorist protection required by law is $25,000 for one person injured in an accident and $50,000 for two people injured in an accident. However, many drivers choose to purchase additional coverage to ensure greater protection in an accident.
If you have damage to your vehicle from a hit-and-run accident, you can file a claim with your insurance company against your collision coverage. Though you may be responsible for paying a deductible out of your own pocket, the insurance company is responsible for footing the bill on the repair or replacement of your vehicle. If you have rental car insurance, you may even be reimbursed for some of your rental car expenses while your vehicle is being repaired.
If the perpetrator of a hit-and-run accident is caught, your car insurance company may sue him or her for the damages paid to you in the accident. In addition, there are legal consequences if the driver is charged with hit-and-run. These charges are typically a misdemeanor charge with the possibility of up to 6 months in jail. A hit-and-run that resulted in an injury to you or your passengers could increase the fine to $10,000 and an additional 3 months in jail. If a victim is severely injured or killed, the driver is charged with a felony and may face up to 15-25 years in prison.
How Hit-and-Run Affects Your Car Insurance
If you are the victim of a hit-and-run, you may be concerned about how the accident will affect your car insurance and any future in-person or online car insurance quote you apply for. Although there is no way to know exactly how a claim against your insurance will affect you, a single uninsured motorist claim for a hit-and-run is unlikely to have any significant effect on your premiums. However, claims against your collision coverage may have a more noticeable effect. Ultimately, every insurer is different in how they weight claims against coverage. Talk with your independent agent if you have concerns about how a hit-and-run may affect your car insurance.
What to do if you are a victim of a hit-and-run
If you find yourself the victim of a hit-and-run, immediately contact police with a description of the vehicle and its driver. If you can see the perpetrator’s license plate, record it as well. Write down the exact details of the event, including where it occurred and the direction you and the other driver were traveling in.
If there are witnesses nearby, ask them for their information so that they can provide a statement to authorities if necessary. Finally, take photos of the accident scene, and contact your insurance agent to report the damage.
