Short answer
Call police right away and report it, then use your own coverage. PIP pays medical bills and lost income regardless of fault, and uninsured motorist (UM) coverage can pay for injuries and damage caused by an unknown driver — as long as their vehicle actually made contact with you or your car (Insurance Code §1952.104). If you were hurt, Texas Crime Victims’ Compensation can also help with medical bills and lost wages.
Right after a hit-and-run
- Get safe and get help. Call 911 if anyone is hurt — Texas law requires notifying police immediately when someone is injured or a vehicle can’t be driven normally and safely (Transportation Code §550.026).
- Don’t chase the other driver. Note what you can: the plate (even part of it), make, model, color, damage, and direction of travel.
- Photograph everything — your vehicle, the scene, and any debris or paint transfer left behind.
- Find witnesses and cameras — nearby businesses, doorbell cameras, other drivers’ dashcams. Footage is often overwritten within days.
- Report it to police even if the damage is minor. Your insurer will want the report, and a UM claim for an unknown driver depends on showing there was contact.
What Texas law says about the driver who fled
A driver in a crash that injures or is likely to injure someone must stop, check whether anyone needs help, and stay to exchange information (Transportation Code §550.021). Fleeing is a serious crime:
- Someone died: second-degree felony
- Serious bodily injury: third-degree felony
- Other injury: up to five years in prison or one year in county jail, a fine up to $5,000, or both
- Vehicle damage only: Class C misdemeanor under $200 of damage; Class B misdemeanor at $200 or more (§550.022)
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How you get paid if the driver is never found
- PIP — medical bills, lost income, and household services, regardless of fault and even if you have health insurance (Insurance Code §1952.155). See how PIP works.
- Uninsured motorist (UM) — injuries and vehicle damage, if the unknown driver’s vehicle made actual physical contact with you or your property (§1952.104). Insurers must include UM unless you rejected it in writing (§1952.101). See uninsured driver claims.
- Collision coverage — your car’s repairs, minus your deductible, if you carry it.
- Crime Victims’ Compensation — the Texas Attorney General’s program covers people injured when a driver fails to stop and render aid (Code of Criminal Procedure art. 56B.003). It can help with costs like medical bills, lost wages, and counseling. The crime must be reported to police within a reasonable time, and you must apply within three years.
If police find the driver
If the driver is identified, you can claim against their liability insurance like any at-fault driver — and if they turn out to be uninsured, your UM coverage still applies. Keep your report or case number; it’s how you follow up with the investigating officer.
The crash report records what the officer found, including any vehicle description. See how to get it from your DFW police department, or check whether it should be ready yet.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do after a hit and run in Texas?
Get safe, call 911 if anyone is hurt, and report it to police even if the damage is minor. Write down any plate or vehicle details, photograph the scene, and look for witnesses and cameras. Then open PIP and uninsured motorist claims with your own insurer.
Is a hit and run a felony in Texas?
It is when someone is killed (second-degree felony) or seriously injured (third-degree felony). Leaving after other injuries can bring up to five years in prison. Leaving a damage-only crash is a Class C or Class B misdemeanor depending on the damage (Transportation Code §§550.021, 550.022).
Does insurance cover a hit and run in Texas?
Usually your own policy does: PIP for medical bills and lost income, uninsured motorist coverage for injuries and damage if the other vehicle made physical contact, and collision coverage for your car if you carry it.
What if the hit-and-run driver never touched my car?
For an unknown driver, Texas UM coverage requires actual physical contact (§1952.104), so it won’t apply. PIP still pays your medical bills and lost income regardless of fault.
Can Crime Victims’ Compensation help after a hit and run?
Yes, if you were injured. Failure to stop and render aid is a covered crime (Code of Criminal Procedure art. 56B.003). Report it to police within a reasonable time and apply within three years.
Texas law and sources cited
- Tex. Transp. Code §550.021 — duty to stop and render aid
- Tex. Transp. Code §550.022 — crash with vehicle damage only
- Tex. Transp. Code §550.026 — when you must notify police immediately
- Tex. Ins. Code §1952.104 — unknown driver requires actual physical contact
- Tex. Ins. Code §1952.101 — uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
- Tex. Ins. Code §1952.155 — PIP paid regardless of fault or other coverage
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 56B.003 — crimes covered by victim compensation
- Texas Attorney General — Crime Victims’ Compensation eligibility
General information, not legal advice. DFW Crash Data is not a law firm, and every situation is different — for advice about your own claim, talk to a licensed Texas attorney. Laws change; the sources above were checked on the date shown at the top of this page.