One moment you’re driving home on MoPac or sitting at a red light on South Congress. The next, your car has been struck — and the driver who hit you is already gone. No license plate. No insurance information. No one to hold accountable.
Hit and run accidents are among the most disorienting crashes a person can experience. Beyond the physical injuries and vehicle damage, victims are left with a question that feels impossible: If I don’t know who hit me, how do I ever get compensated?
The answer is: more often than you might think. Texas law gives hit and run victims real legal options, and the right attorney can make a significant difference in whether those options work for you. At LGR Law Firm, our Austin and Terrell hit and run attorneys have helped people in exactly this situation recover the compensation they needed to move forward with their lives.
What Texas Law Says About Hit and Run
Texas Transportation Code § 550.021 requires any driver involved in a crash resulting in injury, death, or vehicle damage to immediately stop, remain at the scene, render reasonable assistance, and provide their name, address, vehicle registration, and insurance information. Leaving the scene is a criminal offense — not a civil one.
Criminal Penalties for Leaving the Scene in Texas
The severity of criminal charges depends entirely on what happened in the crash:
- Property damage only: Class C misdemeanor, fines up to $500
- Non-serious injuries: Third-degree felony, up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $10,000
- Serious bodily injury: Second-degree felony, up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $10,000
- Death: First-degree felony, up to life in prison and fines up to $10,000
A criminal conviction can also result in driver’s license suspension, a permanent criminal record, and dramatically increased insurance costs. But from a victim’s perspective, the criminal case and your civil claim are separate tracks — and you don’t need to wait for criminal charges to be filed before pursuing compensation.
Hit and Run Accidents in Austin and Terrell: The Reality
Austin’s roads carry enormous traffic volume across I-35, MoPac Expressway, US-183, and Lamar Boulevard — and that volume creates risk. According to data from the City of Austin’s Vision Zero program, Austin recorded 99 traffic fatalities and 301 serious injuries in 2025. While serious injuries are trending downward, crashes remain a daily reality for Travis County drivers.
Hit and run incidents are a persistent subset of those crashes. A driver who leaves the scene may be uninsured, impaired, driving a stolen vehicle, or carrying an outstanding warrant — reasons that have nothing to do with whether you, the victim, deserve to be made whole.
In Terrell and Kaufman County, I-20 and Highway 80 see consistent commercial and residential traffic. Rural crashes in this corridor often have fewer witnesses and longer emergency response times, making the evidence-preservation window especially tight. Whether you were hit in East Austin or on the outskirts of Terrell, the steps you take in the first hours matter enormously.
What to Do Immediately After a Hit and Run
The decisions you make right after the crash directly affect your ability to recover compensation. Here’s what LGR recommends:
1. Stop and Stay Safe
Pull to a safe location off the roadway if you can do so without causing additional danger. Do not attempt to chase the fleeing driver — this creates more risk for you and others.
2. Call 911 Right Away
Request law enforcement and, if needed, emergency medical services. A police report is essential documentation for both your insurance claim and any future lawsuit. Tell the responding officer everything you observed about the other vehicle, including make, model, color, partial plate numbers, and the direction of travel.
3. Document Everything You Can
If you are physically able, photograph your vehicle damage from multiple angles, the road surface, any debris, nearby traffic camera or security camera locations, and the general scene. Note the exact time and location. Ask any witnesses for their names and contact information before they leave the scene.
4. Seek Medical Attention Immediately
Even if you feel relatively okay, adrenaline frequently masks the severity of injuries in the moments after a crash. Traumatic brain injuries, internal injuries, and soft tissue damage may not present obvious symptoms for hours or days. Getting evaluated establishes a medical baseline that connects your injuries to the crash — critical documentation for any claim.
5. Notify Your Insurance Company
Report the accident to your insurer as soon as possible. This begins the claims process and preserves your right to use your own coverage. Before giving a recorded statement, consult with an attorney.
6. Contact an Austin or Terrell Hit and Run Attorney
The sooner an attorney gets involved, the more they can do to preserve evidence, identify the fleeing driver, and protect your rights during the claims process. LGR offers free case reviews and never charges fees unless we recover compensation for you.
“Representing injury clients is about so much more than the money value of the case. No amount of money will be worth what has been taken. I start with the human and emotional value and build from there to seek a just amount.”
— Kenneth “Tray” Gober, Managing Partner, LGR Law Firm (Qwoted.com)
What Are My Legal Options When the Driver Fled?
This is the question most hit and run victims ask first. The good news is that Texas law and your own insurance policy may provide multiple paths to recovery — even when the at-fault driver is never identified.
Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage
If you carry Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage on your auto policy — which Texas insurers are required to offer, though drivers can waive it in writing — you can file a claim directly with your own insurance company. UM coverage treats an unidentified hit and run driver the same as an uninsured driver, allowing you to recover damages including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage.
Texas law requires that there be physical contact between the hit and run vehicle and your vehicle (or your person) to trigger UM benefits in most cases. This is why witness testimony and a police report documenting the scene are so important.
Underinsured Motorist (UIM) Coverage
If the driver is later identified and their insurance coverage is insufficient to cover your full damages, your Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage can make up the difference up to your policy limits. LGR reviews your complete insurance portfolio as part of every case evaluation to identify every source of potential recovery.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Texas drivers who carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) can use it to cover medical bills and a portion of lost wages regardless of fault — making it a valuable immediate resource while the broader claim is being resolved.
Identifying and Pursuing the At-Fault Driver
In some cases, the fleeing driver can be identified — through traffic cameras, nearby business surveillance footage, witness accounts, or law enforcement investigation. When that happens, a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party becomes possible, and damages can expand to include punitive amounts in cases of particularly egregious conduct.
LGR uses a systematic evidence-gathering approach in every hit and run case, coordinating with law enforcement and pursuing all available camera footage within the critical window before recordings are overwritten.
“You need only sit outside my office door while I’m negotiating with an insurance adjuster to know that I refuse to play games and will zealously advocate for my clients, whether it’s a $200 or $200,000 case. I fight for every penny owed.”
— Kenneth “Tray” Gober, Managing Partner, LGR Law Firm (Qwoted.com)
Why Your Insurance Company Is Not Automatically on Your Side
Many hit and run victims assume that filing a UM claim with their own insurer is a straightforward process. In practice, your insurance company has financial interests that may conflict with yours. Adjusters may argue that the contact wasn’t sufficient to trigger UM coverage, dispute your medical bills, undervalue your injuries, or delay the claim hoping you’ll accept a lower offer out of financial pressure.
This is precisely why having an attorney who understands UM claims — and who has a documented track record of standing firm against adjusters — changes the dynamics of your case. Insurance companies respond differently when they know the attorney on the other side will not settle for less than your claim is worth.
How LGR Law Firm Approaches Hit and Run Cases
LGR Law Firm has offices in Austin (11940 Jollyville Rd #220-S, 78759) and Terrell (313 W Moore Ave Suite 200, 75160) — positioning us to serve clients across Travis County and Kaufman County, as well as clients throughout Central Texas and East Texas who were injured in hit and run crashes.
We handle every hit and run case on a contingency fee basis: you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. From the first phone call, we move quickly — because in hit and run cases, time is evidence.
Our approach includes:
- Immediate evidence preservation: requesting traffic and surveillance camera footage before it’s overwritten
- Comprehensive insurance policy review: identifying every layer of coverage available to you
- Strategic UM/UIM claim management: building documentation that maximizes your recovery
- Driver identification investigation: coordinating with law enforcement and private investigation where warranted
- Trial readiness: building every case as if it will go before a jury, which keeps insurers honest at the negotiation table
Frequently Asked Questions: Hit and Run Accidents in Texas
1. What if the hit and run driver is never identified? Can I still recover compensation?
Yes, in most cases. If you carry Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage on your Texas auto policy, you can file a claim with your own insurer and recover damages even if the at-fault driver is never found. Texas insurers are required to offer UM coverage, though drivers can waive it. If you’re unsure whether you have UM coverage, an attorney can review your policy. LGR reviews every client’s insurance portfolio as part of our free case evaluation.
2. How long do I have to file a claim after a hit and run accident in Texas?
The general statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Texas is two years from the date of the accident. UM/UIM claims with your own insurance company may be subject to different deadlines based on your policy terms. However, evidence like traffic camera footage is often only retained for days or weeks. Contacting an attorney as soon as possible after a hit and run is critical for both evidence preservation and protecting your legal options.
3. Does my health insurance cover injuries from a hit and run?
Your health insurance may pay for immediate medical treatment, but it typically does not compensate you for pain and suffering, lost income, or future medical needs. It also may have subrogation rights, meaning it can seek reimbursement from any settlement you receive. A personal injury attorney will account for all of this when structuring your claim to ensure your net recovery is maximized.
4. What if I only have liability insurance — no UM coverage?
Without UM coverage, recovering compensation from an unidentified hit and run driver becomes significantly more difficult. You may still have options if the driver is eventually identified or if other liable parties exist (such as a property owner whose obstructed signage contributed to the crash). Texas law allows an attorney to explore all available recovery paths. This situation underscores why UM coverage is one of the most valuable protections Texas drivers can carry.
5. Can I sue a hit and run driver in Texas even if they were never criminally charged?
Yes. A civil personal injury lawsuit and a criminal case are entirely separate legal processes. If the driver is identified — even years later — you may be able to pursue a civil lawsuit regardless of whether they were criminally prosecuted. Civil cases use a lower standard of proof (preponderance of the evidence rather than beyond a reasonable doubt) and can result in compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and potentially punitive damages.
6. What should I NOT do after a hit and run accident in Austin or Terrell?
Avoid: chasing the fleeing driver; declining medical evaluation at the scene; giving a recorded statement to any insurance adjuster before consulting an attorney; posting about the accident on social media; accepting the first settlement offer from your insurer without reviewing it with a lawyer. Each of these mistakes can reduce or eliminate your right to full compensation. LGR’s free consultations exist precisely to help you avoid these pitfalls from day one.
Injured in a Hit and Run in Austin or Terrell? LGR Is Ready to Help.
You didn’t cause this. Someone hit you and left — and that person’s decision to run shouldn’t be the reason you don’t get compensated. LGR Law Firm fights for hit and run victims across Travis County and Kaufman County, and we don’t get paid unless you do.
Contact LGR Law Firm today for a free case review. Austin: 512-800-8000 | Terrell: 972-597-9313 | No fees unless we win.