Short answer: Get to a safe place, check for injuries, call the police, take photos, look for witnesses, and report the crash promptly. Do not chase the fleeing driver.
What counts as a hit-and-run?
A hit-and-run happens when a driver involved in a crash leaves without stopping and providing the required information or help. It can involve another vehicle, a parked car, a pedestrian, or other property.
What should you do at the scene?
- Get to safety. Move out of active traffic if you can do so safely, turn on your hazard lights, and call 911 if anyone may be injured.
- Stay at the scene. Do not chase the other driver or risk another crash.
- Record what you remember. Write down the license plate—or any part of it—plus the vehicle’s color, make, model, damage, and direction of travel.
- Call the police. Ask for the officer’s name and the report or tracking number.
- Document the loss. Photograph the scene, your vehicle, debris, and transferred paint. Get witness contact information and ask nearby businesses or homeowners to preserve camera footage.
Then contact Haven Insurance Partners or the carrier’s claims line. Share the police-report information, photos, witnesses, and video leads rather than waiting to see whether the other driver is found.
Do Tennessee drivers have another reporting requirement?
Sometimes. Tennessee requires an Owner Operator Report within 20 days when a crash causes death or injury, more than $1,500 in property damage, or more than $400 in damage to government property. That filing is separate from the investigating officer’s report.
Which insurance coverage pays for hit-and-run vehicle damage?
Collision coverage can pay for covered damage to your vehicle after a hit-and-run, subject to your deductible and policy terms. Uninsured-motorist property-damage coverage may also apply under some Tennessee policies.
The answer depends on the coverage purchased and the facts of the crash. Report it promptly and let the carrier determine which coverage and deductible apply. Comprehensive generally is not the applicable coverage because the damage resulted from a collision.
What can pay for injuries after a hit-and-run?
Uninsured-motorist bodily-injury coverage may respond when an unidentified driver causes covered injuries. Medical-payments coverage, if purchased, may also help. Tennessee’s auto-insurance consumer guide includes hit-and-run drivers in its explanation of uninsured-motorist coverage, but your policy language controls.
What should Jackson-area drivers review before a hit-and-run happens?
Check whether your policy includes collision, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, medical payments, rental reimbursement, and deductibles you could afford after an unexpected loss.
Haven Insurance Partners can help Jackson and West Tennessee drivers review those choices and understand the next steps after a hit-and-run.