Hit and Run in Houston: What Are Your Options?

A hit-and-run is one of the most frustrating experiences a driver can have. Someone hits you, causes damage (or injury), and flees — leaving you to figure out the next steps. In Houston, hit-and-runs happen more often than most drivers realize. The good news: you have more options than you might think.

🚨 The bottom line: Even if the other driver is never found, Texas law gives you multiple paths to recover compensation — starting with your own insurance coverage. Acting fast makes all the difference.

📞 Step 1 — Stay at the scene and call 911

Don't chase the fleeing driver — your safety and a police report come first. Call 911, report the accident, and note as many details about the other vehicle as you can: color, make, model, license plate (even partial), and direction of travel.

📹 Step 2 — Look for witnesses and cameras

Hit-and-run cases are often solved by video. Before you leave the scene, check for:

• Nearby traffic cameras

• Home security cameras and business surveillance

• Dashcams from other drivers who stopped

• Witnesses — get names and phone numbers before they leave

🏥 Step 3 — Get medical attention

Don't skip the ER, even if you feel fine. Documented injuries are crucial to any insurance claim that follows — especially if the at-fault driver is identified later.

🔒 Step 4 — Contact YOUR own insurance

Here's where things get interesting. Texas doesn't require drivers to carry uninsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, but many do — often without realizing it. If you have it, your insurance treats a hit-and-run like an uninsured motorist case:

• Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UMBI) — covers your medical bills and pain and suffering

• Uninsured Motorist Property Damage (UMPD) — covers vehicle damage (subject to a deductible)

• Personal Injury Protection (PIP) — no-fault coverage that pays medical bills regardless of who was at fault

• Collision coverage — repairs your vehicle (subject to your deductible)

Check your declarations page — the coverage is often there even if you don't remember buying it.

📝 Step 5 — File a police report within 24 hours

If police didn't arrive at the scene, go to the nearest Houston Police Department or Harris County Sheriff's Office station and file a formal hit-and-run report. Most insurance claims require a police report number.

⚖️ Step 6 — Contact a personal injury attorney

A lawyer can:

• Push your insurance to pay under UM/UIM/PIP coverage

• Subpoena video footage from nearby businesses before it's overwritten

• Find witnesses who've since scattered

• Pursue the at-fault driver if they're later identified

What if they catch the driver later?

Texas criminal law treats hit-and-run as a serious offense. Leaving the scene of an accident involving injury can be charged as a felony. If the driver is caught, you can still file a civil claim against them (or their insurance) within the 2-year statute of limitations.

Common mistakes after a hit-and-run

• Waiting to file a police report — many insurers require one within 24 hours

• Assuming your insurance won't pay because the other driver fled

• Repairing your vehicle before photographing the damage

• Skipping medical care because the at-fault driver is “gone”

Hit by a hit-and-run driver in Houston?

The Law Office of Jason Castaneda represents hit-and-run victims across Houston and Harris County. We work fast to preserve video evidence, push your insurance to pay under UM/PIP coverage, and pursue any driver who's later identified.

📞 Call (713) 808-9696 for a free consultation.

This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Every case is different. If you've been hit by a fleeing driver, consult a licensed Texas attorney about your specific situation. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship.