Victim of a Hit-and-Run in Kansas City?

Call 911 right away — both for medical attention and to report the fleeing driver while your memory is fresh. Tell the dispatcher everything you can remember about the vehicle: make, model, color, any part of the license plate, direction of travel, and any distinguishing features (damage, bumper stickers, commercial markings).

If you're injured, do not chase the driver. Your safety and health come first. Accept ambulance transport to the hospital — University Health (Truman Medical Center) at Hospital Hill is Kansas City's Level I trauma center for the most severe injuries. Saint Luke's Hospital, Research Medical Center, North Kansas City Hospital, and Children's Mercy (for children) are also options.

While you're waiting for police, write down or voice-record everything you remember: the time of the crash, the direction you and the other vehicle were traveling, the exact location (intersection, block, highway mile marker), the vehicle description, and anything about the driver (gender, clothing, approximate age).

Ask witnesses — they may have seen more than you did or captured the vehicle on their phone. Witnesses at hit-and-run scenes are especially valuable because they may have noticed the license plate or the direction the driver fled. Get their names and phone numbers.

Look around for surveillance cameras: traffic cameras, business security cameras, doorbell cameras on nearby homes, and dashcam footage from other vehicles. In Kansas City, intersections along corridors like Troost Avenue, Prospect Avenue, Independence Avenue, Truman Road, Southwest Boulevard, and commercial areas like the Country Club Plaza, Westport, and Power & Light District often have security footage. Time is critical — most systems overwrite footage within 7 to 30 days.

A police report is critical in a hit-and-run case. It creates the official record and triggers a law enforcement investigation. Contact KCPD at (816) 234-5000 or call 911 from the scene. For crashes on interstates, the Missouri State Highway Patrol responds. For suburban jurisdictions like Independence, Lee's Summit, Blue Springs, Raytown, or Grandview, contact that city's police department.

In Missouri, leaving the scene of an accident involving injury is a Class D felony (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 577.060), carrying up to 7 years in prison. Leaving the scene of an accident involving death is a Class B felony, carrying 5 to 15 years. KCPD investigates these cases seriously, and the criminal investigation may identify the driver — which then gives you a defendant for your civil claim.

Follow up with the investigating officer periodically. Ask for updates on the case status and whether the driver has been identified.

Even if your injuries seem manageable, see a doctor within 72 hours. The stress and adrenaline of a hit-and-run can mask pain. Concussions, internal injuries, herniated discs, and soft tissue damage may not produce obvious symptoms for hours or days.

A medical evaluation creates documented evidence linking your injuries to the crash. Without it, the insurance company will argue your injuries came from something else. Keep all medical records, bills, and receipts — they form the foundation of your damage claim.

If the hit-and-run driver is never identified, your primary source of compensation is your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. Missouri law requires every auto policy to include UM coverage unless you specifically rejected it in writing (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 379.203). This is exactly the situation UM coverage is designed for.

Contact your own insurance company and report the hit-and-run. File a UM claim for your injuries and damages. Your UM policy covers medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages — essentially standing in for the missing driver's liability insurance.

Be aware: even though it's your own insurance company, they may still try to minimize your claim. The UM claim process is adversarial. Consider having an attorney handle the UM claim to ensure you receive fair compensation.

If you don't have UM coverage (because you specifically rejected it), your options for recovery are more limited. You can still pursue the driver if they're eventually identified, and you may have other coverage options (health insurance, MedPay on your auto policy). An attorney can evaluate all available sources.

Hit-and-run drivers are identified more often than you might think. Law enforcement tools include surveillance footage from traffic cameras, businesses, and homes near the crash scene, license plate reader (LPR) data from KCPD and highway patrol cameras, vehicle part identification (debris left at the scene can identify the vehicle make, model, and year), witness tips, and social media and community groups — Kansas City neighborhood groups often share hit-and-run reports and help identify vehicles.

An attorney can also conduct an independent investigation — hiring private investigators, canvassing for surveillance footage, and analyzing physical evidence. The sooner the investigation begins, the better the chances.

If the driver is identified, you can pursue a full personal injury claim against them — including damages that may exceed your UM coverage limits. The criminal prosecution proceeds separately and doesn't prevent your civil claim.

Statute of limitations: Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120(4), you have five years from the date of the hit-and-run to file a personal injury lawsuit in Missouri. For wrongful death, the deadline is three years (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 537.100). (Note: HB 68, proposed legislation to reduce the PI deadline to two years, passed the Missouri House in February 2025 but did not receive a Senate vote before the 2025 session ended. As of March 2026, the five-year deadline remains the law — but verify the current deadline with an attorney, as this area of law may be changing.)

Pure comparative fault: Missouri's pure comparative fault system (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 537.765) means your claim is never barred by your fault percentage — though in a hit-and-run, fault is typically clear since the driver who fled.

Criminal penalties for the driver: Leaving the scene of an accident involving injury is a Class D felony in Missouri (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 577.060). Leaving the scene of a fatal accident is a Class B felony. A criminal conviction or guilty plea can strengthen your civil case significantly.

At-fault state: Missouri is an at-fault state. There is no PIP or no-fault system. The at-fault driver's liability insurance pays — minimum coverage is 25/50/25. If the driver fled and is never found, your UM coverage substitutes.

Hit-and-run cases are procedurally different from standard car accident claims. You may be dealing with a UM claim against your own insurer (which is adversarial despite being "your" insurance), a potential civil claim against an identified driver who may lack assets, and a parallel criminal investigation. An attorney experienced in hit-and-run cases can navigate all of these simultaneously and maximize your recovery.

Most personal injury attorneys handle hit-and-run cases on contingency — you pay nothing unless they recover compensation for you. The initial consultation is free.

State line note: If the hit-and-run occurred on the Kansas side of the metro — in Overland Park, Shawnee Mission, or Kansas City KS — Kansas law applies. Kansas has different UM coverage rules, a 2-year statute of limitations, and a modified comparative fault system with a 50% bar. Verify which state's law applies with an attorney.