New York Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer
Fighting for Crash Victims in NYC and White Plains
At the Law Offices of Michael H. Joseph, PLLC, we’ve spent decades taking serious injury claims head-on across New York City and Westchester County. We don’t take shortcuts. We don’t accept low offers. And we don’t let insurance companies hide behind “unidentified driver” loopholes when you’re the one suffering.
A hit-and-run isn’t a mistake. It’s a decision to leave you injured, exposed, and stuck with the consequences. In New York, drivers who flee crash scenes count on one thing: that you’ll be too overwhelmed to fight back. Unfortunately, your insurance company will use the missing driver as an excuse to pay you less, or nothing at all.
Whether your crash happened in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, or White Plains, we build cases fast, preserve evidence aggressively, and pursue compensation from every available source.
Were You the Victim of a Hit-and-Run in New York?
If you were injured by a driver who fled the scene, you still have rights under New York law, and you may still have a path to compensation even if the driver is never found.
Hit-and-run cases are time-sensitive and evidence-driven. Surveillance footage gets overwritten. Vehicles get repaired. Witnesses disappear. Insurance companies use that delay to deny claims, delay benefits, and lowball settlements.
Our firm handles hit-and-run injury claims throughout NYC and Westchester, and we know how to move fast to lock down the proof that wins cases.
Why Hit-and-Run Accidents Are Different
Hit-and-run crashes create two battles at once: proving what happened, and forcing the insurer to pay even when the at-fault driver tries to vanish.
These car accident cases often involve limited driver identification, incomplete police reports, and aggressive insurance defense tactics designed to make you give up early.
We approach hit-and-run claims like trial cases from day one. That means immediate evidence preservation, a tight medical narrative, and a strategy that targets every liable party and every applicable policy, not just the obvious one.
Who Can Be Held Liable After a Hit-and-Run Accident?
Hit-and-run cases often involve multiple responsible parties. We investigate each one to maximize your recovery.
The Hit-and-Run Driver
If the fleeing driver is identified, we pursue their insurance coverage and personal liability aggressively.
We use police reports, surveillance footage, witness statements, vehicle damage analysis, and accident reconstruction to prove fault and stop them from rewriting the story after the fact.
The Vehicle Owner
Under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law §388, vehicle owners can be responsible for injuries caused by a driver they allowed to use their car.
Even if the owner wasn’t present, the law can make them liable, and that can be the difference between a weak claim and a strong recovery.
Your Own Insurance (Uninsured / Underinsured Coverage)
If the driver who hit you is never found, or has minimum coverage, you may still recover through Uninsured Motorist (UM) or Supplementary Underinsured Motorist (SUM) coverage under your own policy.
No-Fault and Uninsured Motorist Coverage for Pedestrians and Passengers
In New York, hit-and-run victims are often covered by insurance even when the at-fault driver is never identified. No-fault benefits and uninsured motorist coverage may apply whether you were driving, riding as a passenger, walking, or biking at the time of the crash.
If you were a pedestrian or cyclist, coverage may come from your own auto insurance policy, a household member’s policy, or the policy covering the vehicle that struck you if it can be identified. These benefits can pay for medical treatment, lost wages, and, in qualifying cases, pain and suffering.
Insurers routinely underpay these claims, even though you paid for the coverage. We make sure they honor the limits.
What Happens After a Hit-and-Run Crash in New York?
After a hit-and-run crash in New York, police generate an initial report, but critical evidence is often missing. Victims may still pursue compensation through independent proof and Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage, even if the driver is never identified.
In practice, police reports matter, but they are rarely the whole story. Officers usually arrive after the impact, and important details are often missed, including camera locations, witness names, debris patterns, direction of travel, and timing.
That is why we treat a police report as a starting point, not the finish line.
Our attorneys move quickly to preserve the evidence that disappears first, including police records, 911 recordings, surveillance footage, EMS reports, emergency room timelines, and witness information.
We also analyze scene evidence and vehicle damage patterns to confirm fault and strengthen insurance coverage claims before insurers lock into a denial strategy.
What if the police never found the driver?
You may still have a strong case through UM / SUM coverage and independent evidence like video, witnesses, and medical documentation.
What if the police report is wrong or incomplete?
We can correct the record by building independent proof and documenting inconsistencies through footage, witnesses, and expert analysis.
What if the driver comes forward later and lies?
We lock down evidence early, so the facts can’t be rewritten after the vehicle gets repaired and the story gets rehearsed.
Critical Deadlines and Proof Requirements After a Hit-and-Run
Hit-and-run claims involve strict deadlines and proof requirements that insurance companies use to deny coverage.
In most cases, no-fault benefits must be reported within 30 days of the crash, and uninsured motorist claims require prompt notice and proof that physical contact occurred, such as vehicle damage, debris, or witness confirmation.
Delays, missing paperwork, or vague police reports can give insurers an excuse to deny otherwise valid claims. That is why we take immediate steps to document contact, preserve physical evidence, and protect coverage before deadlines expire.
Get Legal Help Now
If you were injured in a hit-and-run in New York City or White Plains, call (212) 858-0503.
We move first, so the insurance company can’t.
Compensation Available After a Hit-and-Run Accident
Hit-and-run victims can recover compensation for both economic and non-economic losses.
Under New York’s no-fault system, medical bills and certain wage losses may be covered initially. If your injuries meet New York’s serious injury threshold, you may pursue a personal injury claim for full damages.
Is It Hard to Meet New York’s Serious Injury Threshold?
In many hit-and-run cases, it is easier to meet New York’s serious injury threshold than people might expect. Fractures, herniated discs, torn ligaments, significant limitations of use, and injuries that interfere with normal daily activities for at least 90 days can all qualify.
Insurance companies often claim an injury is “minor” to avoid paying full compensation, even when medical records show otherwise. The threshold is met through objective medical proof, diagnostic imaging, treatment history, and functional impact, not by how the insurer labels the injury.
If your injuries required ongoing treatment, caused lasting pain or limitations, or disrupted your ability to work or live normally, you may already qualify to pursue full damages beyond no-fault benefits.
Your claim value comes from proof: medical records, functional impairment, treatment consistency, and a liability package strong enough that the insurer sees trial risk.
Medical Expenses
Emergency treatment, surgeries, imaging, rehabilitation, medications, and long-term medical care can all be part of your recovery.
Lost Wages and Reduced Earning Capacity
If your injuries keep you from working, or reduce what you can earn going forward, you can pursue lost income and future earning losses.
Pain and Suffering
Serious injuries cause more than bills. You can seek compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of normal life.
Wrongful Death Damages
If a hit-and-run took your loved one’s life, families may file wrongful death claims to pursue damages for funeral costs, loss of financial support, and other losses allowed under New York law.
What If You Do Not Own a Car or Have No Auto Insurance?
Even if you do not own a vehicle or have auto insurance, you may still have options after a hit-and-run crash.
New York provides a public safety net through the Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (MVAIC) for certain victims injured by unidentified or uninsured drivers. MVAIC claims can provide coverage for medical expenses, lost wages, and, in some cases, pain and suffering.
MVAIC claims are highly technical and aggressively contested. We handle the filing requirements, proof standards, and hearings necessary to preserve these claims when no traditional insurance coverage exists.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Victims of Hit-and-Run Drivers
Hit-and-run drivers frequently strike pedestrians and cyclists at intersections, crosswalks, and city corners, especially in dense areas of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx.
These victims often suffer catastrophic injuries because they have no physical protection.
If you were hit while walking or riding your bike, the at-fault vehicle’s insurance should provide no-fault benefits when identifiable, and UM coverage may apply when it’s not.
We build these cases using video, witnesses, medical proof, and scene analysis to establish how the crash occurred.
Can pedestrians sue after a hit-and-run in New York?
Yes. Pedestrians and cyclists can pursue full damages once their injuries meet New York’s serious injury threshold, including cases where UM coverage applies.
Hit-and-Run Statistics and Why They Matter
Hit-and-run cases are common in New York because traffic density, delivery fleets, rideshare activity, and crowded intersections create more collisions and more opportunities for drivers to flee.
- In New York City in 2024, there were more than 36,000 hit-and-run reports, showing how common drivers leaving the scene still is on city streets.
- In the same year, official data showed that there were about 220 people killed in hit-and-run crashes across the city, a significant increase compared with past years.
- On state roadways, traffic crashes account for hundreds of serious injuries and hundreds of fatalities each year, with hit-and-run incidents contributing to that toll.
Behind every hit-and-run is a person forced to deal with pain, financial stress, and an insurer trying to pay as little as possible. That’s exactly why we push hard, early.
Local Perspective: Hit-and-Run Accidents in NYC and Westchester
Our firm handles hit-and-run injury claims across New York City and Westchester County, including crashes involving:
FDR Drive and the West Side Highway
I-95 and I-287
The Hutchinson River Parkway
The Cross County Parkway
Major NYC avenues and intersections where cameras and witnesses can make or break the claim
Whether your crash happened in Midtown Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, or White Plains, our accident attorneys build a pressure-tested case aimed at maximum recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hit-and-Run Accidents in New York
After decades handling serious injury cases, we hear the same questions from people who walk into our office hurt, angry, and unsure what happens next.
The law is complex, and insurers don’t explain it. They exploit it. You deserve straight answers.
Can I recover compensation if the hit-and-run driver is never found?
Yes. UM / SUM coverage and independent evidence can support recovery even without identifying the driver.
What should I do immediately after a hit-and-run crash?
Call 911, get medical care the same day, document the scene, identify witnesses, and contact a lawyer before speaking to insurers.
How long do I have to file a hit-and-run claim in New York?
Deadlines vary depending on the type of claim and coverage involved, so you should act immediately to avoid losing rights.
What if I was hit by a car but do not own a vehicle?
You may still be eligible for compensation through a household member’s insurance policy or through MVAIC if no insurance coverage is available. These cases require strict compliance with notice and proof rules, which is why early legal guidance matters.
Why Choose the Law Offices of Michael H. Joseph?
Experience matters in hit-and-run cases because these claims don’t come with clean facts or cooperative insurers.
We build leverage by doing what most firms won’t: moving fast, preserving proof, and preparing for trial from the beginning.
- Experience: Decades representing victims of serious crashes in New York
- Results-driven: We pursue the full value, not quick discounts
- Local knowledge: Offices serving New York, NY and White Plains, NY, near the courts that handle high-stakes injury claims
- Client commitment: Clear communication, hard strategy, no fees unless we win