Victim of a Hit-and-Run in Colorado? Vital Steps Before the Trail Goes Cold

It is a shocking, infuriating moment. You’ve been hit, and instead of stopping, you see taillights speeding away.

You are left injured on the side of the road, wondering who is going to pay for the mess they left behind.

First: DO NOT CHASE THEM. It is a natural instinct, but it is incredibly dangerous. You could cause another crash, or the other driver could be violent (they are fleeing for a reason—often stolen cars, warrants, or drunk driving).

Stay where you are. You need to act fast to preserve evidence before it disappears, so you can get your medical bills paid whether they catch the criminal or not.

Immediate Evidence Collection (The “Golden Hour”)

The first hour after a hit-and-run is critical. Once traffic clears or weather changes, evidence is gone forever.

1. Call 911 Immediately: In Colorado, you MUST have a police report to file a hit-and-run claim with your insurance later. If you wait days to report it, your insurance company might think you are lying about how the damage happened.
2. Write It Down NOW: Adrenaline blurs memory fast. Immediately write down anything you saw:
   • Partial license plate (even first 3 letters help).
   • Color, make, model (e.g., “Blue Ford truck”).
   • Distinctive features (rust spots, stickers, broken taillight from impact).
3. Look for Witnesses: Did anyone stop? Get their number. They might have seen the plate when you didn’t.
4. Scan for Cameras: Look at nearby businesses. Do they have security cameras facing the street? Ring doorbells on nearby houses? ATMs? Red light cameras? You need to ask for this footage TODAY before it gets recorded over.

The “Phantom Vehicle” (Miss-and-Run)

What if they didn’t actually hit you, but cut you off so badly you swerved and crashed to avoid them? This is called a “Phantom Vehicle” accident.

WARNING: These are much harder to prove. Insurance companies love to deny these and say you just “drifted off the road” yourself. You almost certainly need an independent witness or video footage to win a Phantom Vehicle claim in Colorado.

Who Pays My Bills if They Aren’t Caught?

This is the good news in a bad situation. If the police never find the driver, your accident is treated exactly the same as if the driver had no insurance.

Your own Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage will step in to pay for your car repairs, medical bills, and pain and suffering.

• REMINDER: Under Colorado law, your insurance company generally cannot raise your rates for an accident that wasn’t your fault, including hit-and-runs.

You need a team that knows how to hunt for evidence the police might have missed, and how to force your own insurer to pay up if the bad guy gets away.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long do I have to report a hit-and-run to my insurance? Report it as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours. Many policies have strict deadlines (sometimes as short as 30 days) for hit-and-run claims. If you miss the deadline, coverage can be denied.

2. Should I post about it on local social media groups? Sometimes yes, but be careful. Posting a photo of your damaged car asking if anyone saw a “Red Toyota with front-end damage” in the area can generate leads. But do NOT post about your injuries or how you are feeling—insurance adjusters watch your social media too.

3. If they ARE caught, can I sue them for more money? YES. In Colorado, fleeing the scene of an injury accident is a serious crime. You may be entitled to punitive damages (extra money designed to punish them) because fleeing is considered “willful and wanton” conduct.

4. Do I still have to pay my deductible? Unfortunately, yes. If you use your own coverage, you usually have to pay your deductible first. However, if the other driver is eventually caught, your insurance company will try to get that money back from them and reimburse you.