Hit-and-Run Accident in Dallas-Fort Worth: What to Do When the Other Driver Flees

Call 911 as soon as it is safe to do so. Tell the dispatcher you are the victim of a hit-and-run and provide your location, the direction the other vehicle fled, and any details you can remember about the vehicle — make, model, color, license plate (even a partial), and any distinguishing features like damage, bumper stickers, or commercial markings.

Do not chase the fleeing driver. It is dangerous and can complicate your claim. Stay at the scene, turn on your hazard lights, and wait for police. If you are on a highway like I-635 or I-30, stay in your vehicle with your seatbelt on to avoid secondary crashes.

When police arrive, give a detailed statement. The responding officer will file a crash report and may issue a BOLO (Be On the Lookout) alert for the fleeing vehicle. Get the crash report number before officers leave. This report is essential for your insurance claim and any future legal action.

Evidence in hit-and-run cases has a short shelf life. If the crash happened near a business, gas station, or intersection, security camera footage may have captured the fleeing vehicle. Contact nearby businesses immediately and ask them to preserve footage. Many surveillance systems overwrite within 48-72 hours.

If you have a dashcam, save the footage right away. Ask witnesses for their names and phone numbers — a witness who caught a license plate number can solve the case. Check nearby traffic cameras — TxDOT operates cameras throughout the DFW highway system, and some footage may be available through a records request.

Photograph your vehicle damage, the crash scene, skid marks, debris left by the other vehicle, and any visible injuries. If the other vehicle left paint transfer, broken glass, or parts (a bumper piece, mirror housing, or headlight lens), do not move them — point them out to police. These physical clues can help identify the vehicle make and model.

Hit-and-run victims often experience heightened adrenaline and shock that masks pain. Get medical attention within 24 hours even if you feel fine. Common injuries include whiplash, concussions, broken bones, and soft tissue damage — symptoms can take 24-72 hours to fully appear.

Tell the doctor you were in a hit-and-run accident and describe every symptom. The medical record from this visit establishes the link between the crash and your injuries. Follow all treatment recommendations and keep every bill and receipt. Gaps in treatment give insurers an opening to minimize your claim.

If the hit-and-run driver is never identified, your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is your primary recovery path. UM coverage treats an unidentified hit-and-run driver the same as an uninsured driver. It pays for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages up to your policy limits.

There is an important requirement in Texas: for a UM claim based on a hit-and-run by an unidentified driver, physical contact between the vehicles is generally required. If the other vehicle struck yours and fled, this is satisfied. If the other vehicle ran you off the road without contact, the claim may be more difficult — but not impossible if you have witness testimony or other evidence of the other vehicle's involvement.

Report the hit-and-run to your insurer promptly. Provide the police report number and all evidence you have gathered. Be cautious with your own insurer — they are paying out of their own funds and may try to minimize your claim. Do not give a recorded statement without understanding your rights.

If police identify the hit-and-run driver — through license plate lookup, surveillance footage, witness statements, or physical evidence — you can file a claim against their insurance or sue them directly. The driver will also face criminal charges, which are separate from your civil claim for damages.

An identified hit-and-run driver faces serious criminal penalties in Texas. Leaving the scene of an accident with injuries is a third-degree felony (Texas Penal Code Section 550.021) — 2 to 10 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. If someone died, it is a second-degree felony — 2 to 20 years. The criminal case can help your civil claim because a conviction or guilty plea establishes that the driver fled the scene.

Even if the driver is identified but is uninsured or underinsured, you can still use your own UM/UIM coverage to fill the gap. You are not limited to what the at-fault driver's insurance (if any) will pay.

Texas proportionate responsibility rules (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Section 33.001) still apply in hit-and-run cases. If the at-fault driver is identified and their insurer argues you share some fault, your recovery is reduced by your fault percentage. At 51% or more, you recover nothing.

In UM claims for unidentified hit-and-run drivers, your own insurer may argue comparative fault. Strong evidence — dashcam footage, witness statements, police reports — protects you from this. If you were driving normally and the other driver struck you and fled, comparative fault is unlikely to be an issue.

The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Texas is 2 years from the date of injury (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Section 16.003). This applies whether you are filing a UM claim or suing an identified hit-and-run driver. If a government vehicle was involved, you must file notice within 6 months under the Texas Tort Claims Act (Section 101.101).

For UM claims, your policy may have shorter notice requirements. Read your policy carefully and report the hit-and-run to your insurer as soon as possible. Delayed reporting can give the insurer grounds to deny your claim.

Victim of a hit-and-run in Dallas-Fort Worth? Take our free 2-minute assessment. Answer a few questions about the accident, your injuries, and your insurance coverage. We will provide a personalized report explaining your recovery options and connect you with a DFW personal injury attorney experienced in hit-and-run cases.

Being the victim of a hit-and-run is infuriating. Someone caused you harm and did not have the decency to stop. Texas law takes this seriously — it is a felony. But your immediate priority is your health and your financial recovery. Start with the assessment. It is free, confidential, and takes just two minutes.