The driver fled — so who pays? In most hit-and-run injury claims the answer is your own policy's uninsured-motorist (UM) coverage, which treats a fleeing driver as uninsured. The math of your claim doesn't change; who sits across the table does.
Reviewed August 24, 2026 · bands map to the disclosed methodologyBased on the multiplier method used by insurers and attorneys. This is an educational estimate, not legal advice — every claim is different.
| Situation | Typical multiplier | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The valuation math | Unchanged | UM claims are valued with the same multiplier method as any injury claim. |
| The payer | Your own insurer | UM coverage steps into the fleeing driver's shoes — up to your UM limits. |
| The posture | Adversarial | Your insurer owes you good faith, but a UM claim is still a negotiation, not a favor. |
These bands are the same disclosed multiplier framework used across this site (methodology) — where a specific injury lands inside it is driven by documentation, permanence, and liability clarity, not by the label on the injury.
UM policies and state law typically require prompt police reporting of a hit-and-run — some within 24 hours — and insurers use late reporting to deny. Call the police at the scene, photograph everything, canvass for witnesses and cameras, and notify your insurer quickly. If the driver is later identified, you gain a second claim against their liability coverage.
A UM claim converts your insurer into the adjuster minimizing your payout — with the same first-offer patterns as any carrier, tempered by good-faith duties. Value the claim independently (that's this calculator), grade their offer against it, and know your UM limits: they're the ceiling, which is why UM/UIM is the single most underbought coverage on the road.
Usually your own uninsured-motorist coverage, which treats the phantom driver as uninsured — valued with the same multiplier math, capped at your UM limits. If the driver is identified later, their liability policy becomes a second source.
Most states restrict surcharging not-at-fault claims, including UM claims — but practices vary. It's a fair question to ask your agent directly, and a poor reason to leave a real injury uncompensated.
Options narrow: crime-victim compensation funds, MedPay/PIP if present, health insurance for treatment, and a claim against the driver if identified. This is also the moment to add UM/UIM going forward — it's inexpensive relative to what it covers.