Hit-And-Run Accidents in Raleigh: What Are Your Options?

Getting hit by a driver who then speeds away is one of the most disorienting things that can happen on the road. One moment you’re driving through the City of Oaks, and the next you’re dealing with injuries, vehicle damage, and no idea who’s responsible—because they didn’t stick around to find out.

If this has happened to you, you’re not alone, and you’re not out of options. Hit-and-run accidents are more common in Raleigh than most drivers realize, and North Carolina law provides real paths to compensation even when the at-fault driver is never found. Here’s what Tien Law Firm wants every Raleigh driver to know.

How Common Are Hit-and-Run Accidents in North Carolina?

Hit-and-run crashes aren’t rare, isolated incidents—they’re a persistent statewide problem. North Carolina has recorded well over 11,000 hit-and-run incidents in a single year, resulting in dozens of fatalities and thousands of injuries statewide.

Closer to home, Raleigh sees a substantial volume of traffic crashes every year. NCDOT data shows the city logged roughly 16,800 crashes in a recent year alone, resulting in over 6,200 injuries and dozens of deaths—averaging more than 46 crashes and 17 injuries every single day. High-traffic corridors like Capital Boulevard, New Bern Avenue, and the interchanges along I-440 and I-40 see some of the highest crash volumes in the city, and these same busy roads are where hit-and-run incidents tend to concentrate—particularly during Friday afternoon rush hour, one of the highest-risk windows for Raleigh drivers.

Pedestrians and cyclists are especially vulnerable. Hit-and-run drivers frequently flee after striking someone outside a vehicle, leaving victims with serious injuries and no way to immediately identify who hit them.

What Counts as a Hit-and-Run in North Carolina?

Under North Carolina General Statute § 20-166, any driver involved in a crash has a legal duty to:

• Stop immediately at the scene
• Remain at the scene until law enforcement completes its investigation (or releases them)
• Provide their name, address, driver’s license number, and vehicle registration information
• Render reasonable assistance to anyone who is injured
• Report the crash to police if it involves injury, death, or significant property damage

A driver who fails to do any of this—whether they strike another vehicle, a pedestrian, a cyclist, or even a parked car—has committed a hit-and-run under North Carolina law, regardless of whether they meant to cause harm or simply panicked.

Penalties for Hit-and-Run Drivers in NC

North Carolina takes leaving the scene seriously, and the penalties scale with the severity of the crash:

• Property damage only: Typically charged as a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to 120 days in jail and significant fines.
• Serious injury: Can be elevated to a Class H felony, carrying a potential sentence of up to 25 months in prison.
• Death: Leaving the scene of a fatal crash is charged even more severely and can result in years of prison time.

While these criminal penalties hold the at-fault driver accountable, it’s important to understand something critical: a criminal conviction does not automatically put money in your pocket. Criminal court and civil compensation are two separate tracks, and recovering compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering requires a different legal path—one that starts with understanding your insurance options.

What Are Your Options After a Hit-and-Run in Raleigh?

The good news is that North Carolina law anticipated this exact problem, and most hit-and-run victims have a clear path to compensation, even if the at-fault driver is never identified.

1. File an Uninsured Motorist (UM) Claim

Under North Carolina law, every auto insurance policy sold in the state must include uninsured motorist coverage—and by law, a hit-and-run driver is treated the same as an uninsured driver. That means your own UM coverage can step in to pay for:

• Medical bills and future treatment
• Lost wages from missed work
• Pain and suffering
• Vehicle repair or replacement costs

As of January 1, 2025, North Carolina requires drivers to carry minimum UM coverage of $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident, though many drivers carry higher limits.

There are important requirements to keep in mind: in most cases, the unidentified vehicle must have made physical contact with your vehicle (or, for pedestrians, with your body), and the crash generally needs to be reported to police within 24 hours to preserve your right to file a UM claim.

2. Pursue the At-Fault Driver If They’re Later Identified

If police are able to track down the driver who fled—through surveillance footage, witness statements, license plate readers, or vehicle debris left at the scene—you gain additional options. You may be able to file a claim directly against that driver’s insurance policy or pursue a personal injury lawsuit against them for damages your UM coverage doesn’t fully cover.

3. Explore Underinsured Motorist (UIM) Coverage

If the hit-and-run driver is identified but carries only minimal insurance, your underinsured motorist coverage can make up the difference between what their policy pays and the full value of your damages.

4. Act Quickly to Preserve Evidence

Hit-and-run cases often hinge on evidence that disappears fast. Steps that can make or break your ability to recover compensation include:

• Calling 911 immediately and filing a police report
• Writing down anything you remember about the other vehicle—color, make, model, partial license plate, or distinguishing damage
• Photographing the scene, your vehicle, and any visible injuries
• Looking for nearby businesses, homes, or traffic cameras that may have captured footage
• Getting contact information from any witnesses
• Notifying your own insurance company promptly, since many policies impose strict reporting deadlines for UM claims

Why the Driver Not Being Found Doesn’t Mean You’re Out of Luck

Many hit-and-run victims assume that if the police never catch the driver, they’re simply stuck covering their own losses. That’s one of the most common—and costly—misconceptions we see. North Carolina specifically built uninsured motorist coverage into every auto policy sold in the state to protect drivers in exactly this situation. Whether the at-fault driver is never found, is found but uninsured, or is found but underinsured, there’s very likely a path to compensation available to you.

That said, insurance companies—including your own—don’t always make these claims easy. Adjusters may question whether the contact requirement was met, dispute the value of your injuries, or delay the process altogether. That’s where having an experienced Raleigh personal injury attorney on your side makes a real difference.

Why Choose Tien Law Firm

For more than a decade, Tien Law Firm has helped North Carolina families navigate exactly this kind of uncertainty—with offices in Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Greensboro, and Wilmington, we understand the roads, the courts, and the insurance companies across the state. As an award-winning personal injury firm, we know how to:

• Investigate the crash and work to identify the at-fault driver
• Handle the uninsured motorist claims process on your behalf
• Push back against insurance companies that undervalue or delay your claim
• Pursue every available source of compensation, from UM and UIM coverage to a direct claim against the driver if they’re identified

You shouldn’t have to navigate a hit-and-run alone, and you shouldn’t have to guess at what your own insurance policy actually covers. Let us handle that so you can focus on recovering.

Call Tien Law Firm today at (919) 800-2000 for a free consultation. We’ll walk you through your options and help you understand exactly what compensation you may be entitled to.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do immediately after a hit-and-run in Raleigh? Call 911, seek medical attention, document everything you can about the scene and the other vehicle, and notify your own insurance company as soon as possible to protect your right to file a UM claim.

Can I still get compensation if the driver who hit me is never found? In most cases, yes. Your own uninsured motorist coverage is specifically designed to cover situations where the at-fault driver can’t be identified.

How long do I have to report a hit-and-run to preserve my insurance claim? Many policies require notice within 24 hours of the crash, and North Carolina law includes specific notice requirements for unknown-driver UM claims, so it’s important to act quickly.

Do I need a lawyer for a hit-and-run claim if I’m just dealing with my own insurance company? Even claims against your own insurer can be delayed or undervalued. An attorney can make sure the claim is properly documented, that deadlines are met, and that you receive the full compensation your policy provides.

Every hit-and-run case involves unique facts—contact Tien Law Firm at (919) 800-2000 to discuss your specific situation.