Hit-and-RunUpdated March 2026

Victim of a Hit-and-Run in Tampa?

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Key Takeaways

  • Call 911 immediately and report it as a hit-and-run — do not chase the other vehicle, and try to note the make, model, color, and any part of the license plate while the details are fresh.
  • Florida's statute of limitations for personal injury is 2 years from the date of the accident (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(a)) — this applies whether the hit-and-run driver is identified or not, and was reduced from four years by HB 837 in 2023.
  • Under Florida's modified comparative negligence rule (Fla. Stat. § 768.81(6)), if you are found 51% or more at fault you recover nothing — so documenting the scene with photos, witness statements, and surveillance footage is critical to proving the other driver's fault.
  • Hillsborough County records over 6,000 hit-and-run crashes per year, resulting in approximately 1,600 injuries and around 12 fatalities — leaving the scene of an injury crash is a third-degree felony under Fla. Stat. § 316.062.
  • File a PIP claim with your own insurance promptly and seek medical treatment within 14 days (Fla. Stat. § 627.736) — but be cautious with recorded statements, as even your own insurer's interests are not always aligned with yours.
  • Initial consultations with personal injury attorneys are free and most work on contingency — and if you carry Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage, an attorney can help you recover compensation even if the hit-and-run driver is never found.
1

Check for injuries and call 911 immediately

If you or anyone else was hurt, call 911 right away. Do not chase the other vehicle — it's dangerous, and you need to focus on your safety and getting medical help.

When the operator answers, report it as a hit-and-run. Police treat these calls with urgency because leaving the scene of an accident involving injury is a third-degree felony in Florida (Fla. Stat. § 316.062). If the crash resulted in a death, the fleeing driver faces a first-degree felony with a mandatory minimum four years in prison.

Hillsborough County records over 6,000 hit-and-run crashes per year, resulting in approximately 1,600 injuries and around 12 fatalities. You are not alone — this is one of the most common types of crashes in the Tampa Bay area.

2

Try to note details about the other vehicle

While the details are fresh, write down or voice-record everything you can remember about the vehicle that fled: make, model, color, any part of the license plate, the direction it was heading, and any damage you noticed. Even a partial plate number or a description like "dark-colored SUV heading east on Hillsborough Avenue" can help investigators.

If there were witnesses, ask for their names and phone numbers immediately. Witness statements are often the most effective tool for identifying a hit-and-run driver.

Check whether any nearby businesses or homes might have security cameras pointed at the road. Dashcam footage — yours or a witness's — can be invaluable. Note the exact location and time, and tell the responding officer about any potential video evidence.

3

Document everything at the scene

Photograph your vehicle's damage, the road and intersection, any debris left by the fleeing vehicle (bumper fragments, paint transfer, broken lights), traffic signals, skid marks, and your injuries. This evidence matters even if the other driver is never found — it supports your insurance claim and any future legal action.

If you're a pedestrian or cyclist who was struck, photograph the exact location, your injuries, your damaged clothing or equipment, and any tire marks on the road. The Tampa Bay metro ranks among the deadliest in the nation for pedestrians, and hit-and-runs involving pedestrians are disturbingly common.

4

File a police report

File a police report even if the other driver has disappeared. This creates an official record of the crime and triggers a law enforcement investigation. In Tampa, report to the Tampa Police Department (TPD) if the crash occurred on city streets, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) for unincorporated county areas, or the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) for interstate and highway crashes.

You can also file a report online for non-emergency incidents. Tell the responding officer every detail you remember about the vehicle, the driver, and the direction of travel.

Florida law requires drivers involved in a crash to stop immediately, provide their identification and insurance information, and render reasonable aid to anyone who is injured (Fla. Stat. § 316.062). A driver who fails to do this has committed a crime — and you are the victim.

Once the report is filed, request the crash report number. You'll need it for your insurance claim. Reports are available through the Florida Crash Portal at flcrashportal.com.

5

See a doctor within 14 days

Even if your injuries seem minor, see a doctor as soon as possible. Florida's 14-day PIP rule (Fla. Stat. § 627.736) requires you to seek medical treatment within 14 days of the accident to preserve your Personal Injury Protection benefits. PIP covers up to $10,000 in medical expenses (80%) and lost wages (60%) regardless of fault — and regardless of whether the other driver is identified.

The 14-day deadline is absolute. Miss it and you lose your PIP benefits entirely.

Tampa General Hospital is a Level I trauma center for serious injuries. St. Joseph's Hospital, AdventHealth Tampa, Brandon Regional Hospital, and James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital are additional options. For less severe injuries, urgent care clinics throughout Hillsborough County can document your condition and create the medical record you need.

Keep all receipts, medical records, and documentation. If the other driver is eventually identified, this evidence supports your full injury claim.

6

Contact your own insurance company

After a hit-and-run, your own insurance is your first line of financial protection. File a claim under your PIP coverage for immediate medical expenses and lost wages.

Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage is critical in a hit-and-run. If the other driver is never identified, their insurance can't be pursued — but your UM policy can cover your injuries as if you were hit by an uninsured driver. UM coverage is not required in Florida, but if you have it, it may be the most important coverage on your policy in a hit-and-run situation.

Report the hit-and-run to your insurer promptly and provide the police report number. Be cooperative with your own insurer as required by your policy, but be cautious with recorded statements — even your own insurance company's interests aren't always perfectly aligned with yours. Consider consulting an attorney before giving a detailed recorded statement.

7

Understand Florida's 2-year statute of limitations

Under Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(a), you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Florida. This applies whether the hit-and-run driver is identified or not — if they're found within the limitations period, you can bring a claim against them.

This two-year deadline was reduced from four years by HB 837, effective March 24, 2023. Two years passes quickly, especially while you're recovering from injuries. Starting the process early gives you the strongest position.

If the at-fault driver is eventually identified and you discover their identity close to the deadline, an attorney can move quickly to preserve your rights. But don't wait — building a strong case takes time even when you know who hit you.

8

Consider talking to a personal injury attorney

Hit-and-run cases are more complex than typical car accidents. An attorney can help you navigate UM claims, deal with your insurance company, pursue the investigation, and maximize your recovery whether or not the other driver is found.

Most personal injury attorneys offer free consultations and work on contingency — you pay nothing unless they recover compensation for you. An experienced Tampa hit-and-run attorney can evaluate your UM and PIP coverage, work with law enforcement on the investigation, calculate the full value of your claim, and negotiate aggressively with your insurance company on your behalf.

If the hit-and-run driver is eventually identified, you gain additional avenues for recovery including a direct claim against their liability insurance and potentially punitive damages if the circumstances warrant it.

Tampa Hit-and-Run Facts

6,000+

hit-and-run crashes per year in Hillsborough County

FLHSMV crash data

2 Years

statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Florida

Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(a)

Felony

Leaving the scene of an accident involving injury is a third-degree felony in Florida

Fla. Stat. § 316.062

Florida's hit-and-run law is serious

Florida takes hit-and-run crashes seriously. Under Fla. Stat. § 316.062, any driver involved in a crash is required to stop immediately, provide identification and insurance information, and render reasonable assistance to injured persons. Leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage only is a second-degree misdemeanor. Leaving the scene of a crash involving injury is a third-degree felony. And leaving the scene of a crash that results in death is a first-degree felony carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of four years in prison — with penalties up to 30 years. These criminal penalties are separate from your civil injury claim. The driver faces criminal prosecution by the state, while you pursue compensation for your injuries through a civil claim or your own insurance.

Why UM coverage matters in a hit-and-run

Florida does not require drivers to carry bodily injury liability insurance — only PIP and property damage liability. This means many drivers on Tampa roads have no coverage for injuries they cause to others. In a hit-and-run where the driver is never found, Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage is often the only path to full compensation beyond your $10,000 PIP limit. UM coverage pays for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages as if the hit-and-run driver were an identified uninsured motorist. If you have UM coverage on your policy, it can make the difference between a $10,000 PIP payout and a settlement that actually covers your injuries. If you don't currently have UM coverage, consider adding it after this experience. In a state with high hit-and-run rates like Florida, it's one of the most valuable coverages you can carry.

High-risk areas for hit-and-runs in Tampa

Hit-and-run crashes happen throughout Hillsborough County, but certain corridors see higher rates. High-traffic, multi-lane roads like Hillsborough Avenue, Nebraska Avenue, Dale Mabry Highway, Fletcher Avenue, and Busch Boulevard — where vehicles travel at higher speeds and intersections are wide — see elevated hit-and-run rates. The area near USF along Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and Fowler Avenue also sees frequent incidents, particularly involving pedestrians and cyclists. Nighttime crashes, especially on weekends near nightlife districts like Ybor City and SoHo, have higher hit-and-run rates, often involving impaired drivers fleeing the scene to avoid a DUI arrest. Afternoon thunderstorms that reduce visibility also contribute to hit-and-run incidents where a driver may claim they didn't realize contact occurred.

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Hit-and-Run FAQ — Tampa & Florida

Yes. Your PIP coverage pays up to $10,000 regardless of who caused the accident (subject to the 14-day rule). If you carry Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage, it can cover your injuries beyond PIP limits as if you were hit by an uninsured driver. UM coverage is the most important protection in a hit-and-run where the at-fault driver is never identified.

Florida's statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years from the date of the accident (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(a)). This applies whether the other driver is identified or not. For your PIP claim, you must seek medical treatment within 14 days and report the accident to your insurer promptly per your policy terms.

Call 911 immediately and report the direction the fleeing vehicle traveled. Provide as much detail as you can — make, model, color, license plate (even partial), and any description of the driver. If it's safe to do so, check on the victim and stay until police arrive. Your witness statement could be the key to identifying the driver and helping the victim recover compensation.

It depends on the severity. Leaving the scene of an accident with property damage only is a second-degree misdemeanor. Leaving the scene of a crash involving injuries is a third-degree felony (Fla. Stat. § 316.062). Leaving the scene of a crash involving death is a first-degree felony with a mandatory minimum sentence of four years in prison.

Yes. PIP (Personal Injury Protection) covers your medical expenses (80%) and lost wages (60%) up to $10,000 regardless of who caused the accident — including hit-and-runs. You must seek medical treatment within 14 days to preserve these benefits (Fla. Stat. § 627.736). PIP applies whether or not the other driver is identified.

Without UM coverage, your recovery options in a hit-and-run are more limited. PIP covers your first $10,000 in expenses, but beyond that, you would need to identify the at-fault driver to pursue their insurance or personal assets. An attorney can help explore all available options, including whether any other insurance coverage might apply to your situation.

Tampa Police Department (TPD), the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO), and the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) investigate hit-and-runs using witness statements, surveillance camera footage, vehicle debris and paint transfer analysis, license plate databases, and tips from the public. The more information you provide — especially partial plate numbers and vehicle descriptions — the better the chances of identifying the driver.

Available compensation depends on your coverage and whether the driver is found. PIP provides up to $10,000. UM coverage can cover medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages beyond PIP. If the driver is identified, you can pursue a full claim against their insurance for all damages including pain and suffering, future medical costs, lost earning capacity, and potentially punitive damages.

Be cautious. Insurance companies — even your own — often make initial offers that don't account for the full extent of your injuries, especially if you're still receiving treatment. Consult with an attorney before accepting any settlement to ensure it covers your current and future medical needs, lost income, and other damages.

Yes. Pedestrians injured in a hit-and-run may be covered under their own auto PIP policy (if they have one), a household member's PIP policy, or UM coverage. Florida's PIP law extends to cover the policyholder even when they're not in a vehicle. An attorney can help identify all available sources of coverage.

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InjuryNextSteps.com provides general informational content and is not a law firm. The information on this page does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Every accident is different. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice, consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. The legal information on this page references Florida statutes and is current as of 2026 but may change. Always verify with a qualified attorney.

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