Coverage when the driver is unknown
Hit and run accidents in New York are often handled through the uninsured motorist coverage that comes with New York auto policies, while no-fault benefits generally still pay early medical bills. People with no auto policy in their household may be able to turn to the Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation, known as MVAIC. These claims usually require that the crash be reported to the police promptly and that notice reach the insurer or MVAIC within a short window. They also generally require physical contact with the fleeing vehicle, so a car that forced you off the road without touching you raises a harder question. Waiting can put the claim at risk, so report it even if you think nothing will come of it.
Helping police find the driver
Tell the police everything you remember about the vehicle, including its color, make, damage, and direction of travel, as soon as you can. A partial plate number is often useful. Nearby businesses, buses, and dashboard cameras may have footage that is overwritten quickly, so a request to preserve it should go out early. If the driver is later identified, that driver's insurance may become available and your claim can shift. Keep the police report number, since insurers will ask for it.
If you are the driver who left
Leaving the scene of a crash in New York is a separate offense, and it is treated more seriously when someone was hurt. If you drove away and are now worried, speak to a criminal defense lawyer right away, before giving any statement. How you come forward, and what you say when you do, can affect what happens next. We can advise on the criminal side and on how to handle your insurer, which will also need to hear about the crash.
