Key takeaways
- Don’t chase the other car. Note the plate, make, colour and direction right away, even partially.
- Look for witnesses and cameras nearby: shops, buses, other drivers’ dashcams.
- Report it to the police quickly: insurers and compensation funds usually require a police report.
- Many countries have a guarantee fund that compensates victims of unidentified or uninsured drivers.
Being hit and left behind is doubly upsetting: you’re dealing with damage or injuries, and the person responsible has disappeared. Leaving the scene of an accident is a criminal offence in nearly every country, and the police take it seriously, especially when someone is hurt. What you do in the next hour makes the difference between an unsolved case and a driver who is found.
In the first seconds
- Check yourself and others for injuries. Call the emergency number if anyone is hurt.
- Don’t follow the other car: a chase puts you and others in danger.
- Write down or say aloud into a voice note everything you saw: plate number (even part of it), make, model, colour, damage on their car, the number of people inside, and the direction they took.
A partial plate is still useful. Combined with the make, colour and place, the police can often narrow it down.
Find witnesses and footage
Ask people nearby if they saw anything, and take their name and phone number. Look around for cameras: shop fronts, petrol stations, car parks, buses, traffic cameras. Footage is often overwritten within days, so ask quickly, or tell the police where the cameras are so they can request it. Ask other drivers if they have a dashcam (see /blog/dashcam-footage-as-evidence/).
Record the scene
Photograph your vehicle, the damage, paint traces left by the other car, debris (pieces of lights or bumpers can identify a model) and the place. Our /blog/how-to-photograph-a-car-accident-scene/ checklist applies here too.
Report it to the police
File a report as soon as you can, in person or by phone depending on your country, and keep the reference number. Bring your photos, witness details and any footage. Without a police report, insurers and compensation funds generally refuse hit-and-run claims. See /blog/how-to-file-a-police-report/.
Who pays for the damage?
- Your own insurance, if your policy covers damage without an identified third party (often called comprehensive or “all risks”). Check your contract and the deductible.
- A national guarantee fund, which exists in many countries to compensate victims of unidentified or uninsured drivers, mainly for injuries. Examples include the FGAO in France and the FGAC in Morocco; the UK has the Motor Insurers’ Bureau.
- The other driver’s insurer, if the driver is later identified.
Declare the accident to your insurer within the delay in your contract, even if you think you’re not covered: they’ll tell you what applies.
If you’re injured
See a doctor the same day and keep every medical document: they’re essential for any compensation for injuries. Our guide /blog/injured-in-a-car-accident-medical-records/ explains what to keep.
Frequently asked questions
Is a hit-and-run with only material damage still a crime?
In most countries, yes: failing to stop after an accident is an offence even when no one is hurt. The penalties are usually heavier when there are injuries.
What if I hit a parked car and the owner isn’t there?
Don’t leave without doing anything. Leave a note with your name and phone number in a visible place, photograph the damage and the note, and, depending on the country, inform the police.
How long do I have to report a hit-and-run?
Deadlines vary by country and insurer, but act within a day or two. Late reports are harder to investigate and may be refused by insurers or guarantee funds.
General information to help you get organised, not legal advice. Procedures and numbers can change: confirm them with the office concerned, and in danger call your local emergency number first.
