Does Comprehensive Auto Insurance Cover Hit-&-Run Incidents?

Comprehensive insurance is there to help you pay to repair your vehicle if it’s damaged in an accident that isn’t a collision. It can also help you replace a stolen vehicle. The most common coverage includes theft, fire, natural disasters, vandalism, and falling objects. Coverage you might not think about includes damage to the vehicle by animals and civil disturbances such as riots.

Whether a hit-and-run incident is covered by comprehensive insurance depends on the details of your insurance policy. Getting hit by a driver who speeds off is a scary experience. Normally the driver at fault will pay. During a hit and run, you don’t have the driver’s information. However, comprehensive insurance may be able to cover the damages.

The first thing to do after a hit and run is call 911 to get help to any victims. A police report needs to be filed for the insurance company. Take pictures of your vehicle and collect as much evidence as possible. Any witnesses to the incident can be helpful as well. Make sure to give all the details of the driver you can to the police and the agency that handles your San Diego auto insurance. Insurance agencies are required by the state of California to offer uninsured/underinsured coverage. While uninsured/underinsured covers damage done by a driver who doesn’t have insurance for the damage caused, it also can help with a hit and run. There are two types of uninsured/underinsured coverage—motorist bodily injury coverage and motorist property damage coverage.

Collision coverage and comprehensive insurance both cover property damage. This coverage can help you pay for damages to your vehicle no matter who’s at fault, including damages from a hit and run, even if your car was parked at the time of the incident. Collision coverage has a deductible of between $500 and $1,000 and is required if you make payments for your car. If you own your vehicle, the coverage is optional but can help with damages or replacing the vehicle. Some policies even cover belongings in the vehicle during the incident.

Personal injury protection is another type of optional coverage. It covers medical bills, childcare, lost wages, and other things no matter who was at fault during the accident. Depending on the details of your coverage, it can cover passengers of the vehicle during the hit-and-run incident as well. The driver leaving the scene of a hit and run is treated as an uninsured driver, and the coverage pays for damages. The good thing about having personal injury protection is that it isn’t just useful if you’re a driver. If you’re the victim of a hit and run as a pedestrian, it can pay for your medical bills. 

If you’re interested in learning more about your options for comprehensive coverage reach out to Altra Insurance Services, a leading provider of auto and motorcycle insurance. San Diego residents can call 619-474-6666 to speak with one of our friendly and knowledgeable agents.