A report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that 36,500 people were killed and 4.5 million were injured in motor vehicle crashes in the United States in 2023 with hit-and-run compensation.
While experiencing a car accident under normal circumstances is emotionally and physically distressing, dealing with a hit-and-run can make things even more difficult.
Unfortunately, ValuePenguin’s hit and run statistics report that 10.1% of fatal crashes in California between 2012 and 2012 involved hit and runs. Here’s what you can expect for a hit-and-run compensation amount.
Average cost of hit-and-run compensation for traffic accidents
Receiving compensation for hit and run accidents can be difficult. As an at-fault state, California holds the driver responsible for causing the accident responsible for paying for any bodily injury or damage. Unfortunately, some people flee the scene, all for various reasons, but about one in eight drivers in the U.S. are uninsured.
After a hit-and-run accident, it is important to gather as much information as possible about the other driver, such as the make and model of his or her vehicle, license plate, appearance, and witnesses who may have seen the accident. If the victim can identify the other driver, he or she can file a claim against the other driver’s liability insurance for hit-and-run compensation.
Individuals who cannot identify the other driver cannot file a claim for liability or property damage. They can use their uninsured motorist (UM) coverage to cover bodily injury after a hit-and-run accident, but not for property damage. MedPay also covers injuries.
According to 2022 data from the Insurance Information Institute on the average car accident settlement, we can determine that the average settlement for hit and run car accident injuries would be similar at around $20,235. A settlement will only come if they can get coverage from MedPay or UM. Unfortunately, MedPay and UM are premium insurance costs, and not all drivers opt for coverage.
Circumstances of the accident and severity of the injuries
It can be difficult to establish averages, as each case differs drastically depending on the severity of the injuries and damages. For example, the average pedestrian injury settlement is likely higher since pedestrians are more vulnerable if hit by a vehicle. In a Martindale-Nolo survey, they found the average settlement to be $23,900. But of those who responded to the survey, only 23% received $20,000 or more.
NHTSA reports that the median medical expense, regardless of injury severity of hit-and-run compensation, was $6,822, and the median work loss was $23,238 per case. Of those cases, 75% received medical compensation from automobile insurance. They also report that the average cost per claim in 2021 for bodily injury under personal liability was $13,008. For uninsured motorists, the average cost per claim was $11,344.
