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What to Do After a Hit and Run in Illinois

Thu 19 Mar, 2026 / by / Car Accidents

What to Do After a Hit and Run in Illinois

A hit and run is disorienting. One moment you’re in a collision, the next the other driver is gone. You’re left with damage, injuries maybe, and no idea who caused it. It’s a lousy position. But you have concrete steps to take and more options than you think.

Step one: stay at the scene and call 911

Stay at the scene even though they left. Under Illinois law (625 ILCS 5/11-401), leaving the scene of an accident is illegal for all involved parties. Staying protects you legally and gives you the best chance of documenting what happened.

Call 911 and report the hit and run. A police report is critical — it creates an official record of the incident, which you’ll need for both insurance claims and any criminal investigation. When officers arrive, give them every detail you can remember: the other vehicle’s make, model, color, license plate (even a partial), direction of travel, and a description of the driver if you saw them.

Document everything you can

After calling police, document the scene yourself. Take photos of your vehicle’s damage from multiple angles, the road conditions, traffic signals, and your location. If there are witnesses, get their names and phone numbers. Ask nearby businesses if they have exterior security cameras that might have captured the incident.

Write down your own account of what happened while it’s fresh. Include the time, your speed, what you were doing before the collision, and exactly what you observed about the other vehicle. These details fade quickly, and the statement you write within an hour of the accident is going to be more reliable than what you remember two weeks later.

Get medical attention

If you have any injuries — or any possibility of injuries — get medical evaluation promptly. The adrenaline of a hit and run can mask pain, and some injuries don’t produce symptoms immediately. A medical record from the day of or the day after the accident establishes the connection between the collision and your injuries. Waiting creates a gap that insurers will use against you.

Filing a claim when the other driver is unknown

Here’s what most people miss: even if the hit-and-run driver is never found, you may recover through your own policy.

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. In Illinois, every auto policy must include uninsured motorist coverage unless you specifically reject it in writing (215 ILCS 5/143a). UM coverage applies when you’re injured by a driver who has no insurance — and in Illinois, a hit-and-run driver who can’t be identified is treated as an uninsured motorist for UM purposes.

There’s a condition: Illinois requires a police report within a reasonable time and physical contact between vehicles. This prevents fraud, but it means someone running you off the road without touching your car may not qualify for UM coverage. The facts matter — legal advice helps here.

Collision coverage. If you carry collision coverage on your policy, it can cover the repair or replacement of your vehicle regardless of who was at fault or whether the other driver is found. You’ll pay your deductible upfront, and your insurer may attempt to recover it through subrogation if the other driver is later identified.

As our guide to UM/UIM coverage in Illinois explains, these coverages are often underused because people don’t realize they apply to hit-and-run situations.

If the other driver is found

Sometimes the police do identify the hit-and-run driver — through plates, surveillance footage, or witnesses. When that happens, you can pursue a claim against that driver’s liability insurance in addition to any UM claim. Leaving the scene of an accident is a criminal offense in Illinois (a Class A misdemeanor for property damage, and a felony if there was injury or death), and the criminal case can produce evidence useful for your civil claim.

If the other driver is identified but turns out to be uninsured, your UM coverage still applies. If they have insurance but inadequate coverage, your underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage may supplement the difference.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my insurance go up if I file a hit-and-run claim?

It depends on your policy and insurer, but generally a UM claim for a hit and run — where you were not at fault — should not result in a rate increase. Illinois law prohibits insurers from raising rates solely because an insured was involved in a not-at-fault accident. That said, collision claims may be treated differently. Ask your agent about your specific policy terms.

What if there was no contact between the vehicles?

Illinois UM coverage for hit-and-run claims generally requires physical contact between your vehicle and the unidentified vehicle. If a driver ran you off the road without making contact, the UM claim may be more difficult — but not necessarily impossible, depending on the evidence. Witness testimony or surveillance footage establishing the other vehicle’s involvement may help. This is one of the situations where getting legal advice early can make a significant difference.

How long do I have to file a hit-and-run claim in Illinois?

The statute of limitations for a personal injury claim in Illinois is two years from the date of the accident (735 ILCS 5/13-202). For your UM claim, your policy may have its own notice and filing requirements. Report the accident to police immediately and to your insurer as soon as possible to preserve your options.

A hit and run doesn’t mean you’re out of options. If you’ve been injured and the other driver left the scene, the Peoria personal injury lawyers at Parker & Parker can help you understand what coverage applies and what steps to take next. The consultation is free.

Injured in a Car Accident? Get the Help You Deserve.

The Peoria car accident attorneys at Parker & Parker offer free, no-obligation consultations. Call (309) 673-0069 or schedule online to discuss your case today.

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