What Happens If You Are Injured in a Hit-and-Run in Texas?

A car accident can be stressful enough without the other driver leaving the scene. If you are injured in a hit-and-run accident in McAllen, Edinburg, or elsewhere in the Rio Grande Valley, you may be left wondering who will pay for your medical bills, vehicle damage, and other losses.

A hit-and-run does not necessarily mean you have no legal or insurance options. The steps you take after the crash can be important for identifying the driver, documenting what happened, and determining what insurance coverage may apply.

What Is a Hit-and-Run Accident in Texas?

A hit-and-run occurs when a driver involved in a collision leaves without fulfilling the responsibilities required by law.

Under Texas law, a driver involved in a collision that results in or is reasonably likely to result in injury or death must stop at the scene, determine whether anyone is involved and needs assistance, and remain at the scene while complying with the applicable requirements for providing information and assistance.

Leaving the scene of a crash involving injuries can result in criminal penalties under Texas law.

Hit-and-run accidents can happen in many situations, including:

• A driver rear-ends another vehicle and speeds away
• A driver hits a pedestrian and leaves the area
• A vehicle strikes a cyclist and does not stop
• A driver causes a crash at an intersection and flees
• A driver hits a parked vehicle and leaves
• A driver sideswipes another vehicle on a busy road and continues driving

In the McAllen and Edinburg area, identifying the driver can sometimes depend on evidence from nearby businesses, traffic cameras, witnesses, or other drivers.

What Should You Do After a Hit-and-Run?

Your first priority should be your safety and the safety of anyone else involved.

If you are injured, seek medical attention. If you are able to safely do so, there are also several steps that may help preserve evidence.

1. Call the Police

Report the hit-and-run to law enforcement as soon as possible.

Give officers as much information about the other vehicle and driver as you can remember, including:

• Make and model of the vehicle
• Color
• License plate number, even if you only remember part of it
• Direction the vehicle traveled
• Location of the crash
• Description of the driver
• Approximate time of the collision

Even a partial license plate number or distinctive vehicle description could potentially help investigators identify the driver.

A police report may also become important when dealing with your insurance company or pursuing a claim.

2. Get Medical Attention

Some injuries are immediately obvious. Others may not become noticeable until hours or even days after a crash.

If you were injured, getting medical attention can help protect your health and create documentation of your injuries.

Keep copies of medical records, bills, prescriptions, and other documentation related to treatment.

3. Photograph the Accident Scene

If it is safe to do so, take photographs of:

• Damage to your vehicle
• The location of the crash
• Road conditions
• Traffic signs and signals
• Debris left at the scene
• Skid marks or other physical evidence
• Visible injuries

Try to document the scene before vehicles are repaired or evidence disappears.

4. Look for Witnesses

Witnesses may have seen the vehicle, driver, or events leading up to the crash.

Ask witnesses for their names and contact information. If someone recorded the accident or captured the fleeing vehicle on a phone or dashcam, that footage could potentially be useful.

5. Look for Nearby Cameras

Businesses, apartment complexes, parking lots, traffic intersections, and other nearby locations may have security cameras.

If the crash occurred near a business in McAllen, Edinburg, Mission, or another Rio Grande Valley community, there may be cameras that captured part of the accident or the vehicle leaving the scene.

Because video footage may not be stored indefinitely, identifying potential sources of surveillance footage quickly can be important.

What If You Don’t Know Who Hit You?

You may still have insurance options even if the driver cannot be identified.

Texas Department of Insurance explains that uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage can provide protection when the at-fault driver does not have insurance or cannot be identified after a hit-and-run.

This type of coverage may help with certain losses related to the accident, depending on the terms of the policy and the circumstances of the crash.

Texas insurance policies generally include uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage unless the insured rejected it in writing.

If you have been involved in a hit-and-run, review your insurance policy and notify your insurance company about the accident.

What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage?

Uninsured motorist coverage, sometimes called UM coverage, is designed to provide protection when the person responsible for an accident does not have insurance.

It can also apply in certain hit-and-run situations where the responsible driver cannot be identified.

Depending on the policy and circumstances, uninsured motorist coverage may help with losses such as:

• Medical expenses
• Vehicle damage
• Rental vehicle expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Certain other damages associated with the accident

Coverage can vary, so it is important to review your policy and understand what it provides.

What If the Hit-and-Run Driver Is Found?

If law enforcement identifies the driver, the situation may change because you may have the opportunity to pursue a claim against the responsible driver and potentially the driver’s insurance coverage.

The fact that the driver was involved in a hit-and-run does not automatically determine the amount of compensation available for your injuries.

Evidence about how the accident happened, the injuries you sustained, medical treatment, lost income, property damage, and other losses may all be relevant.

An attorney can review the circumstances and help determine what legal options may be available.

Why Evidence Matters in a Hit-and-Run Case

One of the biggest challenges in a hit-and-run accident is identifying what happened when the other driver is gone.

Evidence may include:

• Police reports
• Photographs and videos
• Dashcam footage
• Surveillance video
• Witness statements
• Vehicle damage
• Medical records
• Accident reconstruction evidence
• Traffic camera footage
• Insurance records
• Cellphone or other relevant records, when legally obtainable

Even details that seem minor at the scene could become important later.

For example, remembering that the vehicle was a dark-colored pickup truck may not seem particularly useful. But when combined with a partial license plate number, a witness statement, and security footage from a nearby business, it could help investigators narrow down what happened.

Can You File a Personal Injury Claim After a Hit-and-Run?

Potentially, yes.

A hit-and-run does not automatically prevent an injured person from pursuing compensation. The available options depend on factors such as whether the driver can be identified, what insurance coverage exists, the evidence available, and the nature of the injuries and damages.

If the driver cannot be identified, your own uninsured motorist coverage may become particularly important.

If the driver is identified, there may be additional options for pursuing a claim against the responsible party and applicable insurance coverage.

Because every accident is different, it is important to look at the specific circumstances rather than assuming that a hit-and-run leaves you without options.

What If You Were a Pedestrian or Cyclist?

Hit-and-run accidents are not limited to vehicle-versus-vehicle crashes.

A driver may also flee after hitting:

• A pedestrian
• A cyclist
• A motorcyclist
• Someone riding a scooter
• Someone in a parking lot or driveway

These crashes can result in serious injuries because pedestrians and other vulnerable road users have far less physical protection than people inside a vehicle.

If you were injured as a pedestrian or cyclist in McAllen or Edinburg, seek medical attention, report the crash, document the scene if possible, and preserve any available evidence.

What Should You Avoid Doing After a Hit-and-Run?

After an accident, emotions can run high. Try to avoid actions that could make the situation more difficult later.

Do not:

• Chase the fleeing driver if doing so would put you in danger
• Guess about details you do not actually remember
• Delete photographs or videos
• Throw away damaged personal property before documenting it
• Post detailed statements about the accident on social media
• Give inaccurate information to police or insurance companies
• Ignore medical symptoms after the crash

Your priority should be getting to safety, getting medical attention when necessary, reporting the crash, and preserving evidence.

What If the Hit-and-Run Happened in McAllen or Edinburg?

If your hit-and-run occurred in McAllen, Edinburg, Mission, Pharr, or another Rio Grande Valley community, local evidence may become particularly important.

For example, a crash near a shopping center could involve security cameras from nearby businesses. A collision near an intersection could have witnesses or traffic-related video evidence. A crash in a parking lot could involve surveillance footage from the property.

The sooner potential evidence is identified and preserved, the less likely it is that important information will disappear before it can be reviewed.

When Should You Talk to a Personal Injury Attorney?

Consider speaking with a personal injury attorney if you were injured in a hit-and-run and are dealing with significant medical expenses, lost income, serious injuries, disputed insurance coverage, or difficulty determining who was responsible.

An attorney can review the available evidence, explain potential insurance options, and help you understand whether you may have a personal injury claim.

You do not necessarily need to know exactly who caused the accident or how your insurance coverage works before seeking legal advice.

Brasure Law PLLC Helps Injured Clients in the Rio Grande Valley

A hit-and-run can leave you dealing with injuries and expenses while also trying to determine who caused the crash.

Brasure Law PLLC represents personal injury clients in McAllen, Edinburg, and throughout the Rio Grande Valley. If you were injured in a hit-and-run accident, the firm can review the circumstances of your accident and help you understand your potential legal and insurance options.

Injured in a Hit-and-Run in McAllen or Edinburg?

You may have more options than you realize, even if the driver who hit you left the scene.

Report the accident, seek medical attention, preserve evidence, and notify your insurance company. If you suffered injuries and are unsure what to do next, speaking with a personal injury attorney may help you understand your rights and potential options.

Contact Brasure Law PLLC for a confidential consultation about your personal injury case.