When the driver who hit you drives away, or turns out to have no insurance, it can feel like there is no one to hold responsible. In New York that is rarely true. Your own policy, a household member’s policy, or a state fund set up for exactly this situation can pay for your medical bills, lost wages and, in serious cases, your pain and suffering.
The catch is timing. These claims come with deadlines that are shorter and stricter than an ordinary injury case. This page explains who pays, what you need to do and when, and how often hit-and-runs happen in Ulster, Dutchess and Orange counties.
If you were hurt, call us for a free consultation: Kingston (845) 600-0000, Poughkeepsie (845) 404-1700, New Windsor (845) 670-7000.
How often hit-and-runs kill people in our three counties
The state does not publish county counts of non-fatal hit-and-runs. For fatal crashes, federal data records whether a driver fled. From 2019 through 2024:
| County | Fatal hit-and-run crashes | People killed | Of those, on foot or on a bike |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange | 6 | 7 | 4 |
| Ulster | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Dutchess | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Three counties | 13 | 15 | 12 |
Fatal hit-and-run crashes in Orange, Ulster and Dutchess counties, 2019–2024. Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (2024 data preliminary).
Two things stand out:
- The people killed are mostly pedestrians and cyclists. 12 of the 15 were walking or riding a bike. See our pedestrian accident statistics and bicycle accident statistics.
- 2024 was the worst year in Ulster County. Three fatal hit-and-runs killed four people, all on foot or on a bike, including two people crossing the road in Marlborough and a SUNY New Paltz student walking along Route 208.
Hit-and-runs are a smaller share of road deaths here than across the state. They account for about 3% of the 454 traffic deaths in the three counties, against about 9% statewide, where New York City drives the number up. For all fatal crashes, see Hudson Valley fatal car accidents.
How many Hudson Valley drivers are uninsured
The Insurance Research Council estimates that 8.6% of New York drivers were uninsured in 2023, about 1 in 12. That is below the national rate of 15.4%, but it still means an uninsured driver is on almost any busy road at any time. Many more carry only the state minimum of $25,000 per person, which a serious injury can exhaust quickly.
Who pays when the driver fled or had no insurance
New York gives injured people several layers of protection. Which ones apply depends on the insurance you and your household have.
- No-fault (personal injury protection). Every New York auto policy includes at least $50,000 of no-fault coverage. It pays regardless of who caused the crash. It covers medical bills, 80% of lost earnings up to $2,000 a month for up to three years, and up to $25 a day in other reasonable expenses for up to a year. If you were a pedestrian or cyclist, your own auto policy or a household member’s usually pays. Motorcyclists are the exception; see why no-fault doesn’t cover riders.
- Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. Every New York auto policy also includes at least $25,000 per person ($50,000 per accident) of uninsured motorist coverage. A hit-and-run driver counts as uninsured. This is the coverage that pays for pain and suffering when the at-fault driver can’t be found or has no insurance.
- Supplementary uninsured/underinsured motorist (SUM) coverage. SUM raises your protection above the $25,000 minimum. Since June 2018, New York insurers must set SUM equal to your own bodily-injury liability limits unless you signed a form choosing less. If you carry $250,000 of liability coverage, you probably have $250,000 of SUM too. SUM also covers you when the other driver was insured but not enough to cover your injuries.
- 4. MVAIC. If neither you nor anyone in your household has auto insurance, the Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation can pay. MVAIC is a state-created fund for injured people who have no other coverage, including pedestrians and cyclists hit by a driver who fled.
- 5. The driver, if they’re found. Many hit-and-run drivers are identified later. When that happens, you can bring a claim against their insurance and, in some cases, against them personally.
Insurers treat UM and SUM claims like any other claim they have to pay: they look for reasons to deny or reduce them. Talk to a lawyer before you give your insurer a recorded statement.
Deadlines you cannot miss
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Report a hit-and-run to the police | Within 24 hours, or as soon as reasonably possible |
| File a notice of intention to claim with MVAIC | Within 90 days of the accident |
| Notify your own insurer of a UM or SUM claim | As soon as practicable, and in writing |
| File a no-fault application | Within 30 days of the accident |
Key deadlines after a hit-and-run or uninsured-driver crash in New York.
Courts enforce these deadlines strictly. A late police report or a missed 90-day notice can end a claim that would otherwise have paid.
What to do after a hit-and-run
- Call 911 and get a police report. It is the foundation of any hit-and-run claim, and the 24-hour clock starts at the crash.
- Get medical care the same day. Some serious injuries don’t hurt right away, and a same-day record ties your injuries to the crash.
- Write down everything about the vehicle. Color, make, partial plate, direction of travel, any damage. Photograph the scene, debris and your injuries if you can do it safely.
- Get witnesses’ names and numbers. Also note any nearby businesses or homes with cameras. Video is often overwritten within days; see how to get video evidence.
- Call a lawyer before you file. We can make sure the right notices go to the right insurer or to MVAIC on time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. In New York a hit-and-run driver is treated as uninsured. Your own uninsured motorist coverage, or MVAIC if you have no auto insurance, can pay, as long as you report the crash within 24 hours and meet the notice deadlines.
First, the auto policy of anyone in your household. If no one in your household has auto insurance, MVAIC. You must file MVAIC’s notice of intention within 90 days of a hit-and-run.
New York law limits surcharges for accidents you didn’t cause. A claim on your own policy after a hit-and-run is generally not treated as an at-fault accident.
It depends on your injuries, your coverage limits and whether the driver is found. UM coverage starts at $25,000 per person. SUM coverage can be much higher. We will review your policy and your household’s policies at no charge.
Talk to a Hudson Valley hit-and-run lawyer
Mainetti & Mainetti has handled Hudson Valley injury cases for more than 55 years. If you were hurt by a driver who fled or had no insurance, call us for a free consultation. You pay nothing unless we win. See our car accident practice or our offices in Kingston, Poughkeepsie and Newburgh.