Introduction
I just spoke with a solo mother whose state was affected by a hit-and-run crash last night. Every year thousands of such accidents happen in states like Florida and North Carolina. In today’s video, we’ll explain how an insurance company investigates a hit-and-run accident and what you can expect as a victim of such an accident. We’ll also explore the questions of how a negligent driver can abandon the scene of an accident and how you can get compensated for your injuries in such a case.
Define Hit and Run Incidents
You are involved in a car accident with another driver. However, instead of stopping to render aid to you as the victim in the accident, that driver flees the scene of the accident. You are left to your own devices to try and recover from your injuries caused by this accident.
In North Carolina, drivers who leave the scene of an accident are involved in an average of 73.4 crashes per year. In other states, such as Florida where fleeing the scene of an accident is clearly negligent, there were 104,273 crashes in which the other driver fled the scene in 2023.
In those states where a driver who causes an accident in which another person is injured flees the scene of the accident, he or she can face serious time and large fines including up to 5 years in prison and fines up to $5,000.
We understand all of the implications of a driver’s actions on the road. At Vasquez Law Firm, we are dedicated to protecting your rights and can represent you regardless of location.
Understand the Role of Insurance Companies in Investigations
Many of our clients have asked us the specifics of hit and run accidents and how insurance companies investigate hit and runs. Typically, an insurance company is trying to figure out who hit another party or parties in order to determine the extent of injury or damage and pay out accordingly. In order to complete the investigation of a hit and run, an insurance company relies on the police report of the incident as well as the statements of any witnesses to the accident. Often times, photos and/or video of the scene as well as any other evidence left at the scene can also be used by an insurance company to investigate a hit and run. In some cases, an insurance adjuster will also be searching for evidence of insurance fraud. Law enforcement often assists the insurance company with the investigation of a hit and run accident in order to gather all necessary information pertaining to the incident.
Leaving the scene of an accident in North Carolina is a very serious offense. In addition to the above information, understanding the process of how an insurance company processes a claim for a hit and run accident is also very important. An insurance company will use items such as recorded statements, a claimant’s cell phone records, video, etc. to piece together what occurred in order to determine fault in an accident as well as the extent of injury and damage to other parties involved in the accident.
Finally, be aware that an insurance company is typically trying to settle a claim as expeditiously as possible and pay out as little as possible to ensure that what they do pay out is true. Thus, if the hit-and-run driver is identified, affected parties can seek to recover further from the driver and/or the driver’s insurance as needed to completely restore them to health after the accident.
Toyota Law personal injury lawyers are experienced in representing injured clients in personal injury cases and work hard to obtain the best possible compensation for their clients’ injuries and to obtain all of the medical treatment that their clients need. Toyota Law offers free initial injury consultations and injury case evaluations. The Toyota Law lawyers, who speak English and Spanish, are available 24/7 to respond to all communications regarding a client’s injury claim. Cooperating with an accident investigation is key to getting the best possible settlement for your injury claims.
We hope that this information about the process used by insurance companies to investigate a hit and run accident has been helpful. We understand that car accident insurance claims can be confusing and we are here to answer all of your questions. We can help with all personal injury claims.
Explore Investigation Processes Used by Insurance Companies
Evidence from accidents involving a hit and run can consist of police reports, witness statements to the accident and even photos taken of the scene of the accident where the other party fled. The laws regarding hit and runs vary from state to state. In North Carolina, for example, hit and runs are very serious offenses and are considered to be crimes. An investigation into a hit and run accident will include gathering information from the accident to build a case against the responsible party for the hit and run accident. Often the investigation will include obtaining interviews and statements from all parties involved in the accident, as well as obtaining information not included in reports from the scene of the accident.
Furthermore, our investigation into a hit and run accident may include the use of experts in forensic reconstruction. They analyze the physical evidence left behind at the scene of the collision such as paint chips, or other debris that may have fallen off at the time of the accident. Each year, there are over 737,100 accidents where the driver abandons the scene of the collision. These types of accidents happen very fast and occur every 43 seconds. In order to ensure that the proper parties are held liable for their actions, a thorough investigation of the incident is required. In many of these cases, the injured party has sought proper medical care for their injuries caused by the collision. In addition, they have informed the authorities of the incident as soon as possible.
Typically, investigations into accidents are conducted by law enforcement and can last anywhere from 4-8 months. These investigations can include cases where the driver of another vehicle was a pedestrian or even parked on the side of the road when he or she was hit by another driver and that driver flees the scene of the accident. In these cases, the party hit by the other driver may be able to seek uninsured motorist coverage for their personal injuries. At Vasquez Law Firm, we are familiar with the intricacies of hit and run cases and are here to assist you. We offer free, no obligation consultations with no up-front costs to you. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and all of our experienced attorneys are bilingual and can assist you in any language that you speak in order to best assist you and ensure that you receive the compensation in which you are entitled for your personal injuries.
Analyze Potential Outcomes of Investigations
It is important to remember that each hit-and-run accident is unique and therefore can end in many different ways. With each different hit-and-run case, one may wonder how insurance companies investigate hit and runs. If the driver responsible for the accident is found during the investigation of a hit-and-run, the consequences of his or her actions can be very severe depending on the amount of injury or death that he or she caused. In some cases of hit-and-runs, however, the investigation can lead to the responsible party and their insurance company paying for the victim’s car to be fixed and for their medical bills.
In Florida, for example, over 104,000 accidents occurred in which the driver left the scene of the accident in 2023. If the driver cannot be found, he or she will be reported as an uninsured motorist. That same uninsured motorist may be the subject of a claim by the victim for his or her repair of the vehicle and for his or her medical bills. In addition, the victim may seek to recover from the victim’s own uninsured motorist coverage or from the at-fault driver’s coverage.
Each case is unique and requires documentation and evidence of the incident. We can provide assistance to individuals throughout the claims process and work to obtain the best results in regards to the hit and run investigation of how do insurance companies investigate hit and runs.
The manner in which an investigation into a hit-and-run accident is conducted can have significant consequences for both the responsible driver and the injured victim in terms of financial recovery for their damages. Finding the right help as soon as possible after a hit-and-run is critical.
Conclusion
Being involved in a hit and run accident can be a very emotional and helpless time. The investigative process can be very overwhelming and it is important to surround yourself with the right people. In many hit and run cases, the investigation and outcome of the case is left up to the insurance company of the responsible party.
Every hit and run accident is different. The consequences for the responsible driver can vary depending on the specific circumstances. If you or a loved one have been the victim of a hit and run accident, you may be able to recover from the driver’s insurance as well as from your own uninsured motorist coverage. Contact the Vasquez Law Firm today for a FREE initial consultation regarding your hit and run accident case. We handle all types of cases in any language. We will fight for you to get the compensation you deserve.
We are here to serve you including translation when necessary. All of our attorneys speak Spanish and are here to serve you. FREE initial consultations are offered by the experienced attorneys at the Vasquez Law Firm. Call us today at 281-919-4200 to get started on your road to justice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a hit and run incident?
A hit and run incident occurs when a driver involved in a car accident fails to stop and provide assistance to the victim, fleeing the scene instead.
How common are hit and run incidents in North Carolina?
In North Carolina, drivers who leave the scene of an accident are involved in an average of 73.4 crashes per year.
What are the statistics for hit and run incidents in Florida?
In Florida, there were 104,273 crashes in which the other driver fled the scene in 2023.
What are the legal consequences for a driver who flees the scene of an accident?
A driver who causes an accident and flees the scene can face serious penalties, including up to 5 years in prison and fines up to $5,000.
How can Vasquez Law Firm assist victims of hit and run incidents?
Vasquez Law Firm is dedicated to protecting the rights of victims and can represent them regardless of their location.
List of Sources
- Define Hit and Run Incidents
- The State of Hit-and-Runs in the U.S. (https://autoinsurance.com/research/hit-and-run)
- Stay at the Scene (https://flhsmv.gov/safety-center/driving-safety/hitrun)
- Five Quotes about Safety and Avoiding Injury - Moss Berg Injury Law (https://mossberginjurylaw.com/five-quotes-about-safety-and-avoiding-injury)
- Study: North Carolina has 4th-highest hit-and-run crash rate in U.S. - WCCB Charlotte (https://wccbcharlotte.com/2025/04/09/study-north-carolina-has-4th-highest-hit-and-run-crash-rate-in-u-s)
- Understand the Role of Insurance Companies in Investigations
- Who Investigates Car Accidents and Determines Fault? (https://forthepeople.com/blog/who-investigates-car-accidents-and-determines-fault)
- How Will My Hit-and-Run Accident Be Investigated? - DeMayo Law Offices (https://demayolaw.com/faqs/how-will-my-hit-and-run-accident-be-investigated)
- How Do Insurance Companies Investigate Car Accidents? (https://nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/how-will-the-insurance-company-investigate-my-car-accident.html)
- Discover How Hit and Run Accidents Are Investigated (https://crlegalteam.com/faqs/how-are-hit-and-run-accidents-investigated)
- Explore Investigation Processes Used by Insurance Companies
- How Will My Hit-and-Run Accident Be Investigated? - DeMayo Law Offices (https://demayolaw.com/faqs/how-will-my-hit-and-run-accident-be-investigated)
- What is the investigation process for a hit and run? - D'Amore Law Group (https://damorelaw.com/what-is-the-investigation-process-for-a-hit-and-run)
- Why Hit-and-Run Claims Take Three Times Longer to Settle Than Standard Accidents (https://villarilaw.com/blog/why-hit-and-run)
- Discover How Hit and Run Accidents Are Investigated (https://crlegalteam.com/faqs/how-are-hit-and-run-accidents-investigated)
- Hit-and-Run Crashes: Prevalence, Contributing Factors and Countermeasures - AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (https://aaafoundation.org/research/hit-and-run-crashes-prevalence-contributing-factors-and-countermeasures)
- Analyze Potential Outcomes of Investigations
- Hit-and-Run news - Today’s latest updates (https://cbsnews.com/tag/hit-and-run)
- Stay at the Scene (https://flhsmv.gov/safety-center/driving-safety/hitrun)
- What Evidence Is Needed To Prove a Hit and Run in Florida? (https://farahandfarah.com/blog/evidence-needed-prove-hit-and-run-car-accident-florida)
- Hit and Run Statistics and Facts - MSO Law (https://mso.law/hit-and-run-statisticsfacts)
