A hit-and-run leaves you in an especially difficult position: the driver who caused your injuries is gone, and you don't know whether you have anyone to sue. In most cases, you have more options than you think, starting with your own insurance policy.
Your uninsured motorist coverage applies
Arizona law requires insurers to offer uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, and A.R.S. § 20-259.01 means that if you never signed a written rejection of that coverage, you likely have it. UM coverage applies when the at-fault driver is unidentified, which is exactly the situation in a hit-and-run. Your insurer steps into the role of the missing driver, paying your medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages up to your policy limits. MedPay coverage on your own policy can also pay your medical bills immediately while the UM claim is processed.
If the driver is identified
Arizona law (A.R.S. § 28-661) requires any driver involved in an injury crash to stop, provide their information, and render aid. Leaving the scene of a serious injury accident is a Class 3 felony. When a hit-and-run driver is later identified, through witness accounts, traffic cameras, or law enforcement investigation, your claim against their liability insurance proceeds like any other fault-based claim. The criminal charge against the driver also creates a strong negligence record that supports your civil case.
Building your case without the driver's identity
Traffic and intersection cameras, business surveillance systems, and dashcam footage from other vehicles can sometimes identify a hit-and-run driver after the fact. An attorney can send preservation letters to businesses in the area and work with law enforcement investigators on the identification effort. Even if the driver is never found, your UM claim doesn't depend on identifying them.
The filing deadline
Arizona gives most personal injury victims two years from the accident date (A.R.S. § 12-542). UM claims against your own insurer have separate notice requirements, often 30 days for hit-and-run incidents. Acting quickly matters for both. See our post on the Arizona personal injury statute of limitations.
Our car accident attorneys handle hit-and-run claims throughout Phoenix and Scottsdale on a contingency fee basis. No fee unless we win. Call (480) 418-SHER (7437) or reach out online.