Hit by an Uninsured or Hit-and-Run Driver in Utah?
A driver with no insurance, or no name, doesn’t have to mean no recovery. Here’s how.
General information, not legal advice.
Utah’s minimums often aren’t enough
Utah’s required minimum coverage is 25/65/15, far less than the cost of a serious crash. Even when the other driver is insured, their limits may run out long before your bills do.
UM/UIM coverage is your safety net
Many Utah policies include uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, which pays when the at-fault driver has no insurance, too little, or can’t be identified, including in a hit-and-run. You may have this coverage even if you don’t realize it; an attorney reviews every policy that could apply.
After a hit-and-run
Call 911 and report it immediately, write down anything you remember about the vehicle, look for witnesses and nearby cameras, and get medical care. A prompt police report is often essential to a UM claim after a hit-and-run.
How uninsured motorist coverage works in Utah
Utah insurers must offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, usually written as UM and UIM on your declarations page. UM steps in when the driver who hit you has no insurance at all. UIM steps in when they have insurance but the limits are too low for your injuries: Utah’s legal minimum is $25,000 per person, which a single emergency room visit and a few weeks of treatment can exhaust. Your UM/UIM pays what the other driver’s policy should have paid, up to your own limits.
A hit-and-run is generally handled as an uninsured motorist claim under your own policy, because the responsible driver is unknown. Policies set reporting requirements and may ask for evidence that another vehicle was involved: the police report, witnesses, photos of the damage, dashcam or nearby camera footage. Report to the police right away and to your insurer promptly. Your PIP coverage still pays your first medical bills regardless, because PIP does not depend on fault or on finding the other driver.
What to do in the first hours
Call 911 even if the other driver has already left. Leaving the scene of a crash involving injury is a crime in Utah, and an official report documenting the time, place, and damage is the foundation of a hit-and-run claim. Write down anything you remember about the vehicle: color, make, partial plate, direction of travel, damage. Ask nearby businesses whether their cameras face the road, and ask witnesses for a phone number before they leave.
If the other driver stayed but admits they have no insurance, do not accept a cash offer or a promise to pay later. Get their name, address, phone number, and license plate, and let your insurer handle it through your UM coverage. Suing an uninsured driver personally is possible, but collecting a judgment from someone who could not afford insurance is usually not, which is exactly why UM coverage exists.
Key takeaways
- Utah’s 25/65/15 minimums often fall short of real crash costs.
- UM/UIM coverage can pay when the other driver can’t, even in a hit-and-run.
- Report a hit-and-run to police immediately and gather evidence.
- An attorney finds every policy that may cover you.
Frequently asked questions
Does my PIP still pay if the other driver fled?
Will a UM claim raise my insurance rates?
Sources & further reading
Hurt in a Utah crash? A free case review takes about a minute, no fee unless you win.
Related reading
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