Getting hit by another car is stressful enough. Watching the driver speed off is a whole other level. One minute you are checking yourself for injuries, the next you are staring at a pair of taillights and wondering who is going to pay for any of this.
Here is the good news: a hit and run does not mean you are on your own. You have more options than most people think, and what you do in the first hour and the first week can make those options a lot easier to use. This guide walks through what to do, in order, after a hit and run in Colorado Springs.
Get safe and call 911
If you can, move out of traffic and away from the road. Call 911 right away, even if you feel okay. Adrenaline hides pain, and a police report made at the scene becomes the backbone of your claim later.
Do not chase the other driver. Colorado law requires drivers in a crash to stop, help anyone who is hurt, share their information, and report the crash. Leaving the scene is a crime here. It is a misdemeanor traffic offense when only property is damaged, a higher misdemeanor when someone is injured, and a felony when someone is seriously hurt or killed. That is the other driver’s problem to answer for. Your job is to stay safe and collect what you can.
Collect clues while they are fresh
Memory fades fast and evidence disappears faster. If you are able, grab these:
- Any part of the license plate, even a few characters
- The make, model, color, and any damage, stickers, or roof racks on the vehicle
- Which direction the driver headed
- A description of the driver, if you saw them
- Names and phone numbers for witnesses
- Photos of your car, the road, skid marks, and any debris the other vehicle left behind
Look around for cameras too. Gas stations, shops, apartment buildings, and traffic cameras may have caught the whole thing. Ask the business to save the footage, and do it quickly, because many systems record over themselves within days. If you have a dash cam, save the clip before it loops.
Not everyone is able to do all of this at the scene, and that is okay. If you are hurt, getting medical help comes first. A friend or family member can often go back later to photograph the scene and ask nearby businesses about video.
What if your parked car was hit?
Hit and runs are not always dramatic. Plenty of them happen in a grocery store lot or on a quiet street, and you only find out when you walk back to your car. A driver who hits a parked vehicle is expected to stop and try to reach the owner or leave their contact information. When that does not happen, report it to the police, take photos of the damage and the surrounding area, and look for cameras nearby.
Your own collision coverage, or uninsured motorist property damage coverage if your policy includes it, may help with repairs, depending on the terms. Check your policy before you assume you are paying out of pocket.
Get checked out by a doctor
Even a “minor” hit can cause injuries that show up later, like neck strain, concussions, and back pain. Delayed symptoms are common, and we cover why in our guide on delayed symptoms after a car accident. See a doctor soon, tell them about every symptom, and follow the treatment plan. Medical records connect your injuries to the crash, and gaps in care give insurance companies room to argue.
Call your own insurance company
This is where many hit and run victims find their safety net. Colorado insurers have to offer uninsured motorist coverage, often called UM, and a driver can only turn it down in writing. Depending on your policy, UM may help cover your medical bills and other losses when the driver cannot be found. Some policies also include medical payments coverage or collision coverage that can help right away.
Read your policy for notice rules. Some insurers expect a police report and quick notice of the crash. Report it promptly, stick to the facts, and go easy on recorded statements until you understand what your coverage says.
One thing to keep in mind: your own insurer is still an insurance company. Your policy can pay, but they may still question your injuries, your treatment, or the value of your claim.
Mistakes that can hurt a hit and run claim
Most of these are easy to avoid once you know about them. Our post on common mistakes people make after an accident goes deeper, but here are the ones we see most in hit and run cases:
- Skipping the police report because the damage looked small
- Waiting to see a doctor until the pain gets bad
- Posting about the crash or your recovery on social media
- Guessing about details, like the other car’s speed or exact color, instead of saying what you actually saw
- Missing your own policy’s notice deadlines
- Accepting the first settlement offer before you know the full extent of your injuries
What a hit and run claim may cover
Depending on your policy and the facts, a hit and run claim may help with medical bills, lost income, vehicle repairs, and pain and suffering. The pieces can come from different places, which is part of why it helps to know what coverage you have before you start making calls. Collision coverage typically deals with your car. Medical payments coverage, if you have it, can help with bills regardless of fault. Uninsured motorist coverage is often the main source for bodily injury when the driver cannot be found.
Each piece of coverage has its own rules, limits, and deadlines. It never hurts to ask your insurer, in writing, which coverages they are opening under your claim.
Your first 24 hours checklist
When you are shaken up, a short list is easier to follow than a long article. Screenshot this one or copy it into your notes app:
- Call 911 and ask for a report number
- Photograph the scene, your vehicle, and anything the other car left behind
- Write down everything you remember about the other vehicle and driver
- Get names and numbers for witnesses
- Ask nearby businesses to save video
- See a doctor, even if you feel okay
- Notify your insurance company
- Keep receipts for medical care, towing, and rental cars
- Hold off on posting about the crash online
What if the driver is found?
Sometimes police track the driver down through a plate, a witness, or camera footage. If that happens, you may have a claim against the driver and their insurance company on top of any coverage under your own policy. The driver may also face criminal charges, which is a separate process from your claim for compensation. A conviction does not automatically give you money, and a lack of charges does not mean you have no claim, so keep the two tracks separate in your head.
Watch the clock
Colorado gives you three years from the date of a car accident to file a lawsuit, but waiting is rarely a good plan. Evidence disappears, witnesses move away, and insurance policies often have their own, shorter notice deadlines. If a government vehicle was involved, Colorado requires written notice within 182 days. If a loved one died in a hit and run, a longer window of four years may apply in some cases, but that is not something to count on without talking to a lawyer. Our guide to the car accident statute of limitations in Colorado breaks down the deadlines in more detail.
When a lawyer helps
Hit and run cases have a lot of moving parts: an unknown driver, an insurance company that is also your own, and deadlines that start the day of the crash. An attorney can help preserve evidence, look for the driver, and handle the insurance conversations while you focus on getting better.
If you were hurt in a hit and run in Colorado Springs, our Colorado Springs hit and run accident attorneys at Rector Stuzynski Law Firm are happy to talk through what happened and what your options look like.
This article is general information, not legal advice, and every case is different.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I call the police after a hit and run even if I feel fine?
Yes. A police report documents the crash while details are fresh, and many insurance policies expect one. You may also not feel injuries until hours or days later, and having a report on file protects you if symptoms show up down the road.
Can I recover money if I never find the driver?
Possibly. Your own uninsured motorist coverage, medical payments coverage, or collision coverage may apply, depending on your policy. Check your policy or ask an attorney to review it with you.
How long do I have to file a lawsuit after a hit and run in Colorado?
For most car accident injury claims, you have three years from the date of the crash. Insurance policies often require notice much sooner, and claims involving a government vehicle require written notice within 182 days.
What is the penalty for leaving the scene of an accident in Colorado?
It depends on the harm caused. Property damage only is a misdemeanor traffic offense, a crash with an injury is a higher misdemeanor, serious injury is a felony, and a death is a more serious felony.
What if I only got a partial license plate?
Give it to the police anyway. A partial plate, combined with a vehicle description and nearby camera footage, can be enough to identify a driver. Write down everything you remember while it is fresh.
Do I need a lawyer for a hit and run claim?
You are not required to have one, but these cases can get complicated fast. A lawyer can help preserve evidence, work with your insurer, and keep the deadlines straight.
