Hit and Run
Hit and Run Accident in New York: How to Still Get Compensated
Jonathan Fuzailov, Esq.
September 28, 2026 · 4 min read
The driver fled — but your own insurance policy may cover everything. Here's how uninsured motorist claims and MVAIC work after a hit and run.
Your own policy steps in
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage — mandatory on every New York auto policy — treats a hit-and-run driver as uninsured. You make the claim against your own insurer, which then stands in the shoes of the fleeing driver. Supplementary SUM coverage can raise those limits significantly.
Report it within 24 hours
UM hit-and-run claims require prompt notice: report the crash to police within 24 hours and notify your insurer as soon as possible. These policies have strict notice requirements, and late reporting is the most common reason valid claims get denied.
No insurance? MVAIC may help
Pedestrians and cyclists without any auto policy in their household can turn to the Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (MVAIC), a state fund that pays no-fault benefits and bodily injury claims for victims of hit-and-run and uninsured drivers.
Help find the driver
Surveillance cameras, doorbell footage, and body-shop tips identify fleeing drivers more often than people expect. If the driver is found, a direct liability claim — and possibly punitive damages — becomes available.
Free case review
Hurt in a hit and run in New York? Talk to a lawyer today.
Deadlines in New York can be as short as 90 days, and insurers start building their defense immediately. Get a free, no-obligation review of your case from Fuzailov Law — you pay nothing unless we win.
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