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Insurance companies don’t offer coverage specifically for hit-and-runs in California. But look to pay for your car’s damage under other types of car insurance coverage.
A hit-and-run in the state means that a driver left an accident scene after knowingly damaging someone else’s property or injuring a person. Drivers who hit someone’s property without the owner around should identify themselves instead — such as by leaving a note to avoid getting tagged with a hit-and-run.
Since the state has such a problem with this type of accident, California enforces strict penalties for it. Those include:
Making sure your policy covers hit-and-runs in California may be a good idea. The Golden State has a less than a golden record when it comes to this type of accident. Having car insurance coverage for hit-and-runs could offset damage if this unfortunate situation happens to you.
California has one of the highest totals for hit-and-run deaths in the nation, numbering 337 in 2016, according to a AAA report for 2016. By comparison, Texas had 233 deaths and Florida had 206.
After reporting the accident to police, you can try to get your insurance company to cover the hit-and-run. Consider these methods:
No, California doesn’t allow uninsured motorist or underinsured motorist coverage to apply in hit-and-run situations.
In many cases, you may have to make a hit-and-run claim against your own insurance. Since California doesn’t allow underinsured motorist coverage to pay for this incident, you may need to file under collision. To make a claim:
To jog your memory about the hit-and-run, you can focus on details such as:
California has a high number of hit-and-run accidents compared to other states, which may make coverage for this accident worth the cost. However, you might need to verify with your insurer which type of coverage protects you from this incident.
Consider several providers for their hit-and-run protection and cost to make sure you’re getting the best value.
Typically, a single hit-and-run claim won’t raise your premium since the situation was not your fault. However, it does go on your claims history, which could lead to an increase later if you file multiple claims.
It depends on the situation and how you’re filing the claim. For example, if you knew the other driver’s license plate number, the accident may get filed as normal with that driver’s insurer.
However, a hit-and-run involving bodily injuries or death may open up a lengthy police investigation before you ever file the claim. Once you file the claim with your insurer or the other person’s, expect a shorter time for minor incidents, such as a few days or weeks. For severe accidents, the claim may take longer.
Yes, you can notify police after any accident, especially if caused by a hit-and-run. Police may discover more evidence at the scene, such as car parts from the other vehicle or video from a nearby store. If the person left a note, you may need the police report for insurance purposes.
Sarah George is a personal finance writer at Finder who’s spent the last four years wielding her digital pen on all things banking and insurance. Her know-how has been featured in such publications as CBS, CNET and Reviews.com, and she was a panelist in Finder’s 2020 money-saving webinar. Sarah earned an English education degree and is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance.
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