tidy-wren-2655/12/2026

Hit and run at an intersection — stuck paying my deductible for someone else's mess?

Still kind of in shock about this whole thing, honestly.

Last week I was sitting at a red light, totally stopped, minding my own business. Light turns green, I ease forward maybe a car length, and out of nowhere something slams into the passenger side of my car hard enough to spin me sideways into the next lane. By the time I even processed what happened, the other vehicle was just... gone. Didn't stop, didn't slow down, nothing.

Cops came out. They were sympathetic but basically shrugged — no traffic camera at that particular intersection, no witnesses stuck around, and the other driver was long gone. Filed a report, got my case number, and that was pretty much it.

Here's where I'm at now:

My car is currently sitting at a body shop because the suspension is messed up and it's not safe to drive
I'm relying on rides from family to get to work, which isn't sustainable
My insurance is telling me I have to go through my own uninsured motorist coverage and pay my deductible out of pocket
My neck and shoulder have been stiff and achy since it happened — I haven't gone to the doctor yet because I kept thinking it would just go away

I guess I'm just frustrated that I have to pay anything when I did absolutely nothing wrong. The person who hit me just gets to disappear and face zero consequences while I deal with all of this?

Has anyone been through a hit and run claim before? Is it worth talking to a lawyer, or is there genuinely nothing to be done here? And should I actually get checked out medically even though it doesn't feel that bad?

8 replies

Most helpful first

patient-grouse-4655/12/2026
I went through almost the exact same thing two years ago — hit and run, no witnesses, stuck dealing with my own insurance. The deductible thing is infuriating and I completely understand the rage. One thing I'll say: go get checked out medically, now. I waited almost two weeks on neck stiffness thinking it was nothing and it turned into a much bigger issue. Stiffness after a collision is your body telling you something.
- steady-badger-6255/12/2026
  Please don't brush off that neck and shoulder pain. Post-collision symptoms often don't peak until 48-72 hours after impact, and sometimes even later. Soft tissue injuries in particular can feel mild at first and then flare up significantly. Getting evaluated creates a medical record tied to the accident date, which matters a lot if things get worse down the road. Just go to an urgent care or your primary care doctor and describe exactly what happened and when the pain started.
quiet-swan-1685/12/2026
Your own insurance company is still an insurance company. They're not automatically on your side just because you're the victim here. When you're talking to your adjuster, keep it factual and brief — don't speculate, don't minimize your symptoms, and don't let them rush you into a recorded statement before you've been seen by a doctor. They will use anything you say to limit what they pay out.
curious-raven-9285/12/2026
Worked in claims for years. A few things worth knowing:

1. Depending on your state, if the hit-and-run driver is ever identified later, your insurer may be able to subrogate against them — meaning they go after that driver to recover what they paid you, and potentially your deductible comes back to you. 2. Uninsured motorist property damage and UM bodily injury are often separate coverages. Make sure you understand which ones you actually have on your policy. 3. Document everything right now — photos of the car, photos of any visible marks on your body, save all communication with the shop and your insurer.

Not trying to overwhelm you, just — the details you preserve now matter a lot later.
sharp-newt-6905/12/2026
Not legal advice, but a hit and run with physical symptoms and a vehicle that's undriveable is exactly the kind of situation worth at least a free consultation with a PI attorney. UM/UIM claims can get complicated, and having someone in your corner who knows how those claims are evaluated can make a real difference. Most personal injury attorneys don't charge for the initial call. Just worth knowing that option exists.
- mellow-hare-4505/12/2026
  Quick question — do you actually have uninsured motorist coverage on your policy, or are you assuming you do? Some people find out too late that they either dropped it to save money or it has a really high deductible. Worth pulling out your declarations page and confirming exactly what you have before you assume how this claim is going to go.
sharp-newt-8865/12/2026
Three things, in order: (1) get a medical eval today or tomorrow, not next week; (2) do not give a recorded statement to anyone until you've done that; (3) call a PI lawyer for a free consult before you assume there's nothing to be done. You might be surprised. Stop waiting and start moving on all three.
candid-mole-4775/12/2026
I'm so sorry this happened to you. It's genuinely unfair and I totally get why you're frustrated. Please take care of yourself physically first — the car stuff will get sorted but your body needs attention. Sending you patience because dealing with insurance on top of recovery is exhausting.