Hit-and-run accidents in Texas present unique challenges because the at-fault driver has fled the scene, making it difficult — sometimes impossible — to identify and pursue them for damages. Texas reports thousands of hit-and-run crashes annually. Leaving the scene of an accident that causes injury is a third-degree felony under Tex. Transp. Code § 550.021, punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.
Hit-and-run accidents in Texas present unique challenges because the at-fault driver has fled the scene, making it difficult — sometimes impossible — to identify and pursue them for damages. Texas reports thousands of hit-and-run crashes annually. Leaving the scene of an accident that causes injury is a third-degree felony under Tex. Transp. Code § 550.021, punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.
If you are the victim of a hit-and-run in Texas, your primary path to compensation may be through your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. Texas law requires insurance companies to offer UM/UIM coverage to every policyholder, though you may have rejected it in writing. If you carry UM coverage, it pays for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering up to your policy limits — essentially stepping into the shoes of the missing at-fault driver's insurance.
Law enforcement may eventually identify the hit-and-run driver through traffic cameras, surveillance footage, witness descriptions, forensic evidence (paint transfer, vehicle parts left at the scene), and license plate reader databases. If the driver is identified, you can pursue a standard negligence claim against them. The fact that they fled the scene may also support punitive damages, as fleeing constitutes evidence of consciousness of guilt and reckless disregard for the victim.
Even if the driver is never found, your UM claim can still proceed. UM coverage in Texas is treated as a first-party claim against your own insurer, subject to Stowers doctrine requirements of good faith and fair dealing. If your insurer unreasonably denies or undervalues your UM claim, you may have an additional bad faith insurance claim.
Based on analysis of Texas verdict and settlement data.
| Severity | Medical Costs | Lost Wages | Pain & Suffering | Total Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor | $3,000 – $12,000 | $1,000 – $8,000 | $8,000 – $25,000 | $15,000 – $40,000 |
| Moderate | $12,000 – $40,000 | $8,000 – $25,000 | $25,000 – $75,000 | $40,000 – $125,000 |
| Severe | $40,000 – $150,000 | $25,000 – $75,000 | $75,000 – $350,000 | $125,000 – $500,000+ |
Ranges based on publicly available Texas verdict and settlement data. Actual outcomes depend on specific case facts.
The two-year statute of limitations (§ 16.003) applies. Leaving the scene of an injury accident is a felony under Tex. Transp. Code § 550.021. UM/UIM coverage is governed by Tex. Ins. Code Chapter 1952 — insurers must offer it, and policyholders must reject it in writing for it not to apply. Comparative fault (Chapter 33) applies if the driver is identified. Punitive damages may be available against a fleeing driver. If the driver is not identified, recovery is limited to your own UM coverage. Bad faith claims against your insurer under the Texas Insurance Code are available if they unreasonably handle your UM claim.
Statute of Limitations
2 years from the date of the accident
Comparative Fault
51% Bar Rule
Damage Caps
No Cap on Compensatory
We serve hit and run victims in 264 Texas cities.
Hit and Run in Houston
Harris County • Get estimate →
Hit and Run in San Antonio
Bexar County • Get estimate →
Hit and Run in Dallas
Dallas County • Get estimate →
Hit and Run in Austin
Travis County • Get estimate →
Hit and Run in Fort Worth
Tarrant County • Get estimate →
Hit and Run in El Paso
El Paso County • Get estimate →
Hit and Run in Arlington
Tarrant County • Get estimate →
Hit and Run in Corpus Christi
Nueces County • Get estimate →
Hit and Run in Plano
Collin County • Get estimate →
Hit and Run in Laredo
Webb County • Get estimate →
Hit and Run in Lubbock
Lubbock County • Get estimate →
Hit and Run in Garland
Dallas County • Get estimate →
$15,000 – $30,000 – $100,000 – $500,000+
Get free estimate →
$20,000 – $50,000 – $250,000 – $1,000,000+
Get free estimate →
$25,000 – $75,000 – $300,000 – $2,000,000+
Get free estimate →
$15,000 – $40,000 – $150,000 – $750,000+
Get free estimate →
$250,000 – $500,000 – $2,000,000 – $10,000,000+
Get free estimate →