You were in a crash and the other driver left. No name, no insurance card, no explanation. Now you are dealing with injuries, vehicle damage, and a claim process that feels like it was designed for situations where the other driver actually stayed. It was not designed for yours, but you still have options.
Our hit-and-run accident lawyers serve Dearborn residents and families throughout Wayne County and the broader Detroit Metro area. Kajy Law handles only accident cases.
Our 10 attorneys and 35+ legal professionals have recovered over $100 million for Michigan accident victims, and we work on contingency, meaning no fee unless we recover for you.
Call us at 248-702-6641 or contact us online for a free case review.
Injured in an Accident? Call Kajy Law Now!
Can You Still Recover Compensation After a Hit-and-Run Accident in Michigan?
Yes. Michigan's no-fault system requires your own insurance to cover medical expenses and lost wages after a hit-and-run, regardless of whether the at-fault driver is ever identified. If the driver is found, additional claims become available.
If they are never found, uninsured motorist coverage or the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan may provide further recovery.
Michigan is a no-fault state, which means your personal injury protection coverage pays for medical treatment and a portion of lost income through your own insurer after any accident, including a hit-and-run on Michigan Avenue, the Southfield Freeway, or any road in Dearborn or Wayne County.
If the fleeing driver is later identified, a third-party liability claim against them becomes available on top of your no-fault benefits. If they are never found, uninsured motorist coverage on your own policy is often the primary path to recovering pain and suffering damages that no-fault does not cover.
Our team reviews every available source of recovery and pursues the combination that produces the best outcome for your situation.
Call us for a free case review.
Why Does Having a Lawyer Change the Outcome of a Hit-and-Run Case in Dearborn?
A lawyer changes what gets recovered and how much. In a hit-and-run, your own insurance company controls the initial claim, and their interest is not the same as yours. An attorney levels that dynamic from the first call.
Most hit-and-run victims in Michigan do not realize how many sources of compensation may apply to their situation.
No-fault PIP, uninsured motorist coverage, the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan, and potential third-party liability if the driver is later identified can all be in play simultaneously. Missing one is not a technicality, it is money your family does not recover.
Here is where legal representation makes a concrete difference:
Your insurer handles the claim differently when you have counsel. Insurance adjusters move faster and more carefully when an attorney is involved. Lowball offers made to unrepresented claimants are standard practice. They are far less common when the other side knows the claim will be scrutinized.
Evidence disappears quickly. Surveillance footage from businesses along Michigan Avenue, Telegraph Road, or near the Fairlane Town Center gets overwritten within days. Traffic camera data from Wayne County intersections has a similarly short retention window. We move immediately to request and preserve everything available.
Your recorded statement can be used against you. Adjusters are trained to ask questions in ways that minimize claim value. We handle all communications with insurers from the start so nothing you say is used to reduce your recovery.
The driver may be found. Law enforcement continues to investigate hit-and-run cases after the initial report. If the driver is identified weeks or months later, a third-party liability claim becomes available on top of what no-fault and UM coverage already provided. We stay ready to pursue that claim the moment identification happens.
Reach out to our Southfield office before you speak with any insurer.
Hear From Our Clients
How Does Michigan No-Fault Insurance Apply to Hit-and-Run Accidents in Dearborn?
In a Michigan hit-and-run, your own no-fault PIP coverage pays for medical expenses and a portion of lost wages regardless of whether the at-fault driver is identified. This is one of the core features of Michigan's no-fault system under MCL 500.3101.
No-fault PIP benefits typically cover:
Medical expenses. Hospital care, surgery, rehabilitation, and any other treatment related to injuries from the crash, with no cap for those who selected unlimited PIP coverage.
Lost wages. A portion of income lost while you are unable to work due to your injuries, subject to the limits of your selected coverage level.
Replacement services. Compensation for household tasks you cannot perform due to your injuries, such as cleaning, lawn care, and childcare.
What no-fault does not cover is pain and suffering, which requires meeting Michigan's serious injury threshold. If the hit-and-run driver is never found, uninsured motorist coverage on your own policy is often the primary path to recovering those non-economic damages.
Michigan does not require drivers to carry UM coverage, but many policies include it. We review your full policy during our initial case evaluation to identify every available benefit.
Note: Michigan's no-fault coverage levels and PIP options were restructured under the 2019 auto insurance reform. The benefits available to you depend on the coverage level your policy selected. An attorney can review your specific policy.
What Happens If the Hit-and-Run Driver Is Never Found?
If the at-fault driver is never identified, Michigan victims may still pursue compensation through uninsured motorist coverage on their own policy. No-fault PIP benefits remain available regardless of whether the driver is found.
When the fleeing driver cannot be located, the claim path shifts:
No-fault PIP covers medical expenses and lost wages through your own insurer. This applies in every hit-and-run case regardless of identification.
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, if included in your policy, may cover pain and suffering and other damages beyond no-fault. Under MCL 500.3009, UM coverage is optional in Michigan, but many drivers carry it.
Michigan Assigned Claims Plan. If you have no applicable insurance coverage of your own, the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan may provide a source of no-fault benefits. This is a state-administered program that assigns uninsured claimants to a participating insurer.
Our attorneys identify which of these paths applies to your situation and pursue the combination that recovers the most for your family. We have previously recovered $285,000 for a client injured in a hit-and-run, where the responsible driver fled the scene and caused back, shoulder, and head injuries.
View our full case results to see what Michigan accident victims have recovered with Kajy Law.
Does the Hit-and-Run Driver Face Criminal Charges in Michigan?
Yes. In Michigan, leaving the scene of an accident is a criminal offense under MCL 257.617. The severity of the charge depends on the circumstances.
Leaving the scene of a property-damage-only accident is a misdemeanor. When the accident involved injury or death, the penalties increase significantly, including potential felony charges, license suspension, and imprisonment.
A criminal investigation runs separately from your civil claim. A criminal conviction or guilty plea by the at-fault driver can support your civil case, but you do not need to wait for a criminal outcome to pursue compensation.
Our attorneys pursue the civil claim on your family's timeline, independent of how the criminal process unfolds.
If the driver is eventually identified through police investigation, surveillance footage, witness accounts, or other means, a liability claim against them becomes available in addition to your no-fault and UM benefits.
Call us to discuss how we can pursue every avenue available in your case.
Ask Kajy Law
Can I file a claim if the hit-and-run driver was never caught in Dearbonr?
Yes. In Michigan, your no-fault PIP coverage pays for medical expenses and lost wages regardless of whether the at-fault driver is identified. If your policy includes uninsured motorist coverage, that may also provide compensation for pain and suffering. The Michigan Assigned Claims Plan may apply if you have no coverage of your own. You do not need to know who hit you to start a claim.
Will my insurance rates go up if I file a hit-and-run claim in Michigan?
Filing a no-fault PIP claim after a hit-and-run generally should not increase your premiums under Michigan law, since you were not at fault. However, the impact on your specific policy depends on your insurer and your coverage terms.
An attorney can walk you through the claim process before you file so you know exactly what to expect.
How long do I have to file a hit-and-run insurance claim in Michigan?
For no-fault PIP benefits, Michigan law generally requires written notice of your claim within one year of the accident underMCL 500.3145.
For a third-party liability or uninsured motorist claim, different deadlines may apply depending on your policy terms. Speaking with an attorney as soon as possible after the accident protects every available option.
What if I only have a partial description of the vehicle that hit me?
A partial plate number, vehicle color, or make can be enough for law enforcement to narrow down a suspect. We work with investigators and pursue all available evidence, including surveillance cameras along Michigan Avenue or Telegraph Road, traffic camera data, and witness accounts from nearby businesses. Even incomplete information is worth pursuing.
What if I was hit as a pedestrian or on a motorcycle in Dearborn?
Hit-and-run claims for pedestrians and motorcyclists in Michigan involve specific no-fault rules about which policy applies.
If you were on foot or on a motorcycle without your own auto policy, coverage may come from the vehicle involved, a resident relative's policy, or the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan. These cases are fact-specific and an attorney can identify the right path quickly.
FAQ for Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer in Southfield, MI
How long do I have to file a hit-and-run claim in Michigan?
For no-fault PIP benefits, Michigan law generally requires written notice of your claim within one year of the accident under MCL 500.3145. Missing that deadline can bar your right to those benefits entirely.
For uninsured motorist claims, your policy's terms set the deadline, which may differ. Acting quickly protects every available option and gives your attorney time to preserve evidence that may help identify the at-fault driver.
What if a witness saw the hit-and-run but I did not get their contact information?
Witnesses who leave the scene can sometimes be located through police reports, social media, or nearby businesses where they may have been customers. Surveillance footage from surrounding properties can also capture bystanders who may have witnessed the crash.
We pursue all available evidence in the immediate aftermath of a case, which is one reason contacting an attorney early makes a practical difference.
Can I sue the hit-and-run driver directly if they are later identified?
Yes. If the at-fault driver is identified after the fact, a third-party liability claim against them becomes available in addition to any no-fault or UM benefits already pursued.
The strength of that claim depends on the evidence gathered, the driver's insurance status, and the nature of your injuries. Our team coordinates all claims to avoid duplication and pursue the best combined result.
Does it matter whether the hit-and-run happened in a parking lot or on a public road?
Location can affect which coverage applies and how the claim is handled, but hit-and-run victims generally have options in both situations. Parking lots at locations like the Fairlane Town Center or along Dearborn's commercial strips often have property surveillance cameras that capture incidents public road cameras may miss.
The applicable no-fault rules and any UM coverage on your policy apply regardless of where the crash occurred.
What if the hit-and-run driver fled after being at fault in a multi-vehicle crash?
In multi-vehicle crashes involving a fleeing driver, liability may also extend to other drivers whose negligence contributed to the accident. We investigate the full chain of events to identify every party that may share responsibility, including any drivers who remained at the scene.
Related Resources from Kajy Law
These pages may be helpful depending on your situation:
- Dearborn Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer — What to do when a commercial truck or delivery vehicle is involved in your Dearborn accident.
- Michigan Car Accident Lawyers — How our team handles crash claims and insurance disputes across Michigan.
- What If I Was Hit by an Unlicensed Driver? — How Michigan law handles crashes involving drivers without a valid license.
- Michigan Motorcycle Accident Lawyers — Rights and options for motorcyclists injured in Michigan accidents.
- Case Results — Outcomes our firm has achieved for Michigan accident victims.
- Contact Kajy Law — Reach our team directly.
You Were Left With the Consequences. We Work to Hold Someone Accountable.
A hit-and-run driver is counting on confusion and inaction. In Wayne County and throughout the Detroit Metro area, that bet does not always pay off. Between no-fault PIP coverage, uninsured motorist benefits, the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan, and active investigation into the driver's identity, there are often more paths to recovery than Dearborn victims realize in those first hours after the crash.
Our office is located in Southfield, less than 15 minutes from Dearborn, and we serve clients throughout Wayne County seven days a week.
Lawrence Kajy, recognized by the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 in 2024 and 2025 and featured in the Detroit Legal News, built this firm around one principle: do the work that other firms avoid.
That includes the cases where the path forward is not obvious from the start.
Call Kajy Law at 248-702-6641 or contact us online to schedule your free case review. No fee unless we recover for you.
Kajy Law Firm 18000 W Nine Mile Rd #1400, Southfield, MI 48075