One of the most frustrating situations an accident victim can face is watching the person who hit them drive away. It happens more than people think, and the summer months tend to bring an increase in hit and run accidents, partly because of the rise in impaired driving, partly because of higher overall traffic volume, and partly because warmer nights mean more people out on foot, on bikes, and on motorcycles sharing the road with drivers who are not always paying attention.
The immediate feeling after a hit and run is often helplessness. The person who hurt you is gone. You do not have their name, their insurance information, or even a full license plate. You might assume there is nothing you can do. As a personal injury lawyer in New Bedford, I want to be direct about this: that assumption is wrong. You often have more options than you realize.
Your Own Insurance Policy May Be Your Best Friend Right Now
Massachusetts requires all auto insurance policies to include Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage, commonly called UM. This coverage was specifically designed for situations where the at-fault driver either has no insurance or, as in a hit and run, cannot be identified. When an unidentified driver hits you and flees, your own UM coverage can step in and compensate you for your injuries as if it were the other driver’s policy paying out.
The same applies to pedestrians and cyclists who are hit by a driver who flees. If you have your own auto insurance policy, that UM coverage often extends to you even when you were not in a vehicle at the time of the accident. This is one of the most overlooked benefits in personal auto policies, and a New Bedford personal injury attorney can review your coverage and tell you exactly what applies to your situation.
Act Fast: Evidence Disappears Quickly
Even if you do not have a license plate or the driver’s name, evidence from the scene can be critical. Surveillance cameras from nearby businesses, traffic cameras, and doorbell camera footage from homes near the scene can capture a vehicle that might later be identified. Witnesses who saw what happened can provide descriptions of the vehicle, the direction it went, or even a partial plate number. All of this evidence has a very short window before it is gone.
Steps to take immediately after a hit and run if you are physically able:
- Call 911. A police report is essential for a hit and run UM claim. Most insurers require documentation that the accident was reported to law enforcement.
- Note everything you remember about the vehicle including color, make, body style, and any part of the license plate you caught. Write it down immediately before the details fade.
- Look around for surveillance cameras. Note any businesses, intersections, or homes nearby that might have cameras facing the road.
- Talk to any witnesses and get their contact information while they are still there.
- Take photos of the scene, any debris or paint left by the other vehicle, and your own injuries and vehicle damage.
- Seek medical attention right away.
When you contact a personal injury lawyer in New Bedford quickly, your attorney can send preservation requests to businesses and property owners near the scene before their footage overwrites. This kind of early investigation is something that simply cannot happen if you wait weeks to seek legal help.
What If the Driver Is Later Found?
Hit and run drivers are identified more often than people expect, especially now that surveillance cameras are everywhere and police have better tools for investigating these cases. If the driver who hit you is later found and identified, your claim can shift to their liability insurance. Your attorney can coordinate this transition without you having to start over.
Even while the driver is unidentified, your UM claim with your own insurer proceeds. If the driver is later found and they have insurance, your insurer may seek reimbursement from that driver’s policy. You do not have to manage that process yourself.
Massachusetts Specific Rules for UM Hit and Run Claims
Massachusetts has specific requirements for hit and run UM claims that are worth knowing. In many cases, insurers require that there was actual physical contact between the hit and run vehicle and your car or your body to trigger UM coverage. This “contact requirement” can matter if you ran off the road to avoid a driver who forced you off without hitting you directly. A New Bedford personal injury attorney can review the facts of your situation and advise you on how this rule applies and whether there are arguments that work in your favor.
Additionally, you need to notify your own insurance company of the accident promptly. Waiting too long to report a hit and run can give your insurer grounds to question or limit your claim. Call your insurer to report the accident, but speak with a lawyer before giving detailed statements about your injuries or the circumstances of the crash.
You Did Nothing Wrong
This matters more than it might seem. Hit and run victims sometimes feel embarrassed or unsure whether their situation “counts” enough to get legal help. It absolutely does. You were hurt by someone who did not even stay to face what they did. The law provides you with options specifically because of situations like this, and you deserve to use them.
Contact a personal injury lawyer in New Bedford as soon as possible after a hit and run. A free consultation will tell you exactly what coverage is available, what evidence your attorney can work to preserve, and what your case realistically looks like. Being left at the scene alone does not mean you are alone in what comes next.
