Michigan Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyers

What Counts as a Hit-and-Run Accident in Michigan

A hit-and-run happens when a driver causes a crash and leaves the scene without stopping, sharing their information, or offering aid. It is not limited to two cars colliding. A hit-and-run can involve a pedestrian struck in a crosswalk, a bicyclist clipped on the shoulder, or a parked car damaged in a lot while the owner is away.

Michigan law requires every driver involved in a crash to remain at the scene, share their name and information, and help anyone who is hurt. A driver who ignores that duty commits a crime.

For you, the injured person, what matters most is that a driver leaving the scene does not erase your right to pursue compensation. If a driver fled after hitting you, talk to a Fieger Law attorney about your options.

Understanding Michigan’s Hit-and-Run Laws

Fleeing the scene of a crash carries serious consequences in Michigan, and those consequences grow with the harm involved. Property damage alone is treated less severely than a crash that injures someone, and a hit-and-run that causes a death carries the heaviest penalties of all. A fleeing driver can face fines, a suspended license, and jail time.

Those penalties matter to your case for practical reasons. They give police and prosecutors a strong incentive to identify the driver who hit you, and they give your legal team leverage if they find that driver. Even so, the criminal side of a hit-and-run stays separate from your civil claim for compensation.

You do not have to wait for an arrest or a conviction to start protecting your right to recover. Our team can begin building your claim right away. Contact Fieger Law to get started.

Can You Recover Compensation if the Driver Is Never Found?

This is the question that worries most hit-and-run victims, and the answer is often better than people expect. Michigan’s no-fault system is built to help you even when the person who caused the crash is a mystery.

Several paths to compensation may be open to you, including:

• No-Fault (PIP) Benefits: Michigan’s no-fault insurance pays for medical care and a portion of lost wages after a crash, regardless of who was at fault or whether you ever identify the driver.
• Uninsured Motorist Coverage: If you carry uninsured motorist coverage, it can step in to cover damages caused by an unidentified driver, including pain and suffering in many cases, though policy terms vary. This coverage is often the most direct route to recovery after a hit-and-run.
• The Michigan Assigned Claims Plan: If you have no auto policy and none is available through your household, no-fault benefits may be available through the Michigan Automobile Insurance Placement Facility (MAIPF). The MAIPF exists for exactly this situation: a serious injury with no clear insurance for support.

Figuring out which of these applies to your case is where an experienced lawyer makes the difference. Fieger Law can review your coverage and pursue every source of compensation available. Contact us to find out where you stand.

Steps to Take After a Hit-and-Run Accident

What you do in the moments after a hit-and-run can shape both your recovery and your claim. Evidence disappears fast. Surveillance video gets overwritten, and witnesses move on. Acting quickly protects your options.

Be sure to:

• Call the police. Report the crash right away and give officers every detail you can about the vehicle, its direction of travel, and any part of the license plate you saw. A police report creates the official record your claim will rely on.
• Document the scene. Take photos of your vehicle, the surrounding area, and your visible injuries. Write down anything you remember before it fades.
• Find witnesses. Ask anyone nearby what they saw and how to reach them. A single witness can be the key to identifying the driver.
• Get medical care. See a doctor even if you feel fine, because some injuries surface days later. Prompt treatment ties your injuries to the crash and starts your no-fault claim.
• Notify your insurer promptly. Report the crash to your own insurance company as soon as you can. Many policies require prompt notice to keep uninsured motorist and no-fault benefits available.

Once you are safe and treated, let a Fieger Law attorney handle the rest. Contact us to talk through your next steps.

Hit-and-Run Accidents Involving Pedestrians and Bicyclists

Pedestrians and bicyclists have no physical protection when a driver strikes them and speeds off. Injuries tend to be severe, and the feeling of being left behind is its own kind of harm.

Metro Detroit sees heavy foot and bike traffic along corridors like Woodward Avenue, where crowds gather for events and cruises, and a hit-and-run in that setting can be devastating.

Michigan’s no-fault system also covers pedestrians and bicyclists. If you were walking or riding when a driver hit you and fled, you may be able to recover no-fault benefits through your own policy, a resident family member’s policy, or the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan.

You do not need to have been in a car to qualify. If you or a loved one was hurt while walking or biking, our pedestrian accident attorneys are ready to help. Contact Fieger Law today.

Property Damage in a Hit-and-Run Accident

Not every hit-and-run involves a serious injury. Many drivers return to a parking lot and find a dented door, a scraped bumper, or worse, with no note and no one in sight. You still have options.

Under Michigan’s no-fault law, the at-fault driver’s Property Protection Insurance may cover damage to your properly parked vehicle. If you carry collision coverage, it can also help with repair costs, minus your deductible.

The first steps mirror any hit-and-run. Photograph the damage from several angles, look for witnesses or nearby cameras, and file a police report to create an official record. If a hit-and-run left you with a damaged vehicle and questions about coverage, Fieger Law can help you sort it out. Reach out for a free consultation.

Common Injuries in Hit-and-Run Accidents

Hit-and-run crashes cause the same range of injuries as any serious collision, and often worse, because pedestrians and cyclists absorb the full force of impact.

Common injuries include:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries: A blow to the head can cause lasting cognitive, memory, and mood problems.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spine can lead to partial or complete loss of movement and sensation.
• Broken Bones: High-impact crashes often fracture arms, legs, ribs, and hips.
• Internal Injuries: Organ damage or internal bleeding may not show symptoms right away, so prompt medical care is essential.
• Road Rash and Lacerations: Pedestrians and bicyclists thrown to the pavement can suffer deep abrasions and permanent scarring.

Severe injuries mean high medical bills, lost income, and a long road back. An experienced lawyer can help you pursue the full value of your losses. Contact Fieger Law to learn more.

How Our Michigan Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyers Can Help

A hit-and-run case has moving parts that are hard to manage on your own, especially while you are healing. When the at-fault driver is unknown, the work shifts to investigation, insurance, and knowing which benefits apply. That is where our team steps in.

We can help with:

• The Investigation: We work with law enforcement, review available footage, and follow the evidence to help identify the fleeing driver.
• All Insurance Claims: We handle the paperwork and negotiate with insurers so you don’t have to fight for benefits while you recover.
• Pursuing Every Available Source of Recovery: We review uninsured motorist coverage, no-fault benefits, the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan, and a claim against the at-fault driver if we find them.

Fieger Law has fought for injured people from our Southfield headquarters since 1950. Our trial attorneys are known nationwide, and we bring that same drive to every hit-and-run case. Let us fight for the money you deserve. Contact Fieger Law today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hit-and-run accidents raise many questions. Here are answers to the ones we hear most often.

Can I File a Claim if the Hit-and-Run Driver Is Never Identified?

Yes. You can pursue compensation through your uninsured motorist coverage, your no-fault benefits, or the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan, even if the driver is never found. An experienced lawyer can identify which options apply to your case.

What Should I Do Immediately After a Hit-and-Run Accident?

Call the police, document the scene, and get medical care. Report the crash to your own insurer promptly to protect your benefits. Quick action preserves evidence and strengthens your claim.

Does Michigan No-Fault Insurance Cover Hit-and-Run Accidents?

Yes. Michigan’s no-fault system pays for medical care and a portion of your lost wages, regardless of who caused the crash or whether the driver is identified. These benefits are available to drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

What Is the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan, and How Can It Help Me?

The Michigan Assigned Claims Plan provides no-fault benefits to injured people with no other available auto coverage. The Michigan Automobile Insurance Placement Facility administers it. For a hit-and-run victim with no policy of their own, it can be the path to medical and wage benefits.

What if I Only Have Property Damage From a Hit-and-Run?

You may still have coverage. Michigan Property Protection Insurance can apply to a properly parked vehicle, and collision coverage may help with repairs. Photograph the damage and file a police report to support your claim.

Can Pedestrians and Bicyclists Recover Compensation After a Hit-and-Run?

Yes. Michigan no-fault benefits can reach pedestrians and bicyclists through their own policy, a resident family member’s policy, or the Assigned Claims Plan. You do not need to have been in a vehicle to qualify.

What if I Did Not Get the Fleeing Driver’s License Plate Number?

You may still have a claim. A partial plate, a vehicle description, witness accounts, or nearby camera footage can all help identify the driver. Even without that information, no-fault and uninsured motorist benefits may still be available.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer?

Nothing upfront. Fieger Law works on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not pay us anything unless we recover money for you. Your first consultation is free.

Contact Our Michigan Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyers Today

A hit-and-run can leave you feeling powerless, especially when the driver who caused it is nowhere to be found. You do not have to face it alone. The hit-and-run accident lawyers at Fieger Law knows how Michigan’s no-fault system works, how to track down a fleeing driver, and how to pursue every available source of compensation.

Since 1950, Fieger Law has stood up for injured people across Michigan, and we only win. You pay us nothing unless we recover money for you. Contact Fieger Law today for a free consultation and let us fight for what you deserve.