ClaimFinch

Uninsured drivers

Hit by an uninsured or hit and run driver? You may still have options.

Your own uninsured motorist coverage may help pay for your injuries. Check your claim in about 60 seconds. It's free, with no obligation.

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What kind of accident were you in?

Car accidentTruck or commercial vehicleUber or LyftMotorcycleHit while walking or cyclingSomething else

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Hit by an uninsured driver or a hit and run driver

The short answer

If the driver who hit you had no insurance, not enough insurance, or drove away, you may still be able to recover through your own policy. Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage are built for this. Arizona insurers must offer these coverages in writing, and Georgia policies generally include UM unless you rejected it in writing. Your own insurer may still push back, so it helps to know the rules.

What UM and UIM coverage do

Uninsured motorist coverage helps pay for your injuries when the at fault driver has no liability insurance. Underinsured motorist coverage helps when the at fault driver's insurance isn't enough to cover your injuries.

These claims go through your own insurance company, but your insurer doesn't automatically agree with you. It may question fault or the value of your injuries, much like the other driver's insurer would.

Arizona rules

Arizona insurers must offer UM and UIM coverage by written notice when you apply for a policy, using a form approved by the state (A.R.S. § 20-259.01). You can choose not to buy them, and your declarations page shows what you chose.

If you don't know whether you have it, look at your declarations page or ask your insurer for a copy of your policy.

The 3-Point Claim Check

  1. 1

    An injury

    You were hurt, even if it didn't seem serious at first.

  2. 2

    Someone else at fault

    Another driver or company caused the crash.

  3. 3

    Insurance coverage

    There's a policy that may cover what happened.

Start free check

Georgia rules

In Georgia, auto policies generally must include UM coverage unless you rejected it in writing (O.C.G.A. § 33-7-11). Georgia also has two kinds of UM. Added on coverage is the default and is paid on top of the other driver's insurance. Reduced by coverage is reduced by what the other driver's insurance pays, and you have to ask for it in writing.

If you're not sure which you have, your declarations page or your insurer can tell you.

Hit and run crashes

If you can't identify the other driver, UM coverage may still help. In Georgia, a claim for an unknown driver generally requires physical contact with the other vehicle, or an eyewitness other than you who backs up your account (O.C.G.A. § 33-7-11).

In Arizona, if there was no contact with the unidentified vehicle, you generally need some corroboration that it caused the crash (A.R.S. § 20-259.01). Calling the police right away and getting witness names helps in both states.

What to do now

  • Report the crash to police as soon as you can, especially a hit and run.
  • Tell your own insurer promptly, and check your policy for notice deadlines.
  • Write down anything you remember about the other car, like color, make or part of the plate.
  • Ask nearby businesses for camera footage.
  • Keep your medical records and bills together.

Help with your own insurer

It can feel strange to make a claim against your own insurance company. An attorney can help you understand your coverage and talk to the insurer for you. Participating attorneys work on contingency. No upfront attorney's fees, and they're only paid if you recover.

It's free to check your claim, and you don't have to go ahead.

How it works

  1. 1

    Answer a few questions

    Tell us what happened. It takes about a minute.

  2. 2

    A local attorney's office calls you

    If it looks like you might have a claim, we match you with one participating attorney near you, and their office gives you a quick call.

  3. 3

    They explain your options for free

    No upfront attorney's fees, and they're only paid if you recover.

Common questions

Will using my UM coverage raise my rates?

That depends on your insurer and your situation. Ask your insurer how it handles claims where you weren't at fault.

Do I still have 2 years to file?

The general injury deadline is 2 years in Arizona (A.R.S. § 12-542) and Georgia (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33), but your policy may have its own notice rules. Report the claim to your insurer early and ask an attorney about the timing.

What if I was a passenger or on foot?

Arizona's insurance department says UM and UIM protect you or passengers in your vehicle. Whether coverage applies when you were on foot depends on the policy, so check your own policy and any policy on the car you were in.

Related guides

How long do you have to file a car accident claim?Got a settlement offer? Check these things before you accept.Car accident that wasn't your fault? Here's what to do next.

Last reviewed October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different.

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Answer a few quick questions. If it looks like you may have a claim, a local injury attorney's office will give you a call soon, so keep your phone close. You don't have to go ahead.