The driver who caused your accident is gone. No plate number. No insurance card. No explanation. Just you, your injuries, and a situation that feels like it has no solution. In Michigan, that feeling is wrong, and the driver who fled is counting on you believing it.
Our hit-and-run accident lawyers serve Hazel Park residents and families throughout Oakland 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 in Hazel Park?
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 under MCL 500.3101, 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 Nine Mile Road, John R Road, or anywhere in Hazel Park or Oakland 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.
Hear From Our Clients
Why Does Having a Lawyer Change the Outcome of a Hit-and-Run Case in Hazel Park?
A lawyer changes what gets recovered and how much. In a hit-and-run, your own insurance company controls the initial claim, and their financial interest is not the same as yours. An attorney levels that dynamic from the very first call.
Hazel Park's location creates specific challenges in hit-and-run cases that an attorney is positioned to handle immediately:
Drivers flee toward Detroit and onto I-75 quickly. Hazel Park shares its southern border with Detroit. A driver who causes an accident and flees has fast access to I-75 and the broader Detroit street network within seconds.
That makes identification harder but not impossible. Surveillance cameras at the Hazel Park and Detroit border, I-75 MDOT cameras, and business footage along the route of flight can all capture a fleeing vehicle. We request that footage immediately before it is overwritten.
Policy notice deadlines can void your UM claim. Michigan auto insurance policies may require written notice within 30 days of a hit-and-run accident to preserve your right to uninsured motorist benefits.
This internal deadline is separate from Michigan's legal statute of limitations and is rarely communicated clearly. Missing it can eliminate a significant source of recovery. We review your policy immediately after the first call.
Your insurer handles the claim differently with counsel involved. Adjusters move faster and more carefully when an attorney is involved. Offers made to unrepresented claimants in hit-and-run cases are routinely lower than what the policy actually allows.
Multiple recovery sources may apply simultaneously. No-fault PIP, UM coverage, and the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan can all be in play at the same time depending on your situation. Missing any one of them costs your family real money.
The driver may still be found. Law enforcement continues investigating hit-and-run cases after the initial report. I-75 corridor cameras, neighboring business footage, and witness accounts from the Hazel Park and Detroit border area can produce identification days or weeks later. We stay ready to pursue a third-party liability claim the moment that happens.
Reach out before you speak with any insurer.
How Does Michigan No-Fault Insurance Apply to Hit-and-Run Accidents in Hazel Park?
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 ever identified. This protection applies in every hit-and-run case 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 while recovering, 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 under MCL 500.3135. If the hit-and-run driver is never found, uninsured motorist coverage is often the primary path to those non-economic damages.
Michigan does not require drivers to carry UM coverage, but many policies include it. We review your full policy during the initial evaluation to identify every available benefit and any internal notice requirements that could affect your claim.
Note: Michigan's no-fault reform in 2019 restructured PIP coverage levels. The benefits available depend on the coverage level your policy selected. An attorney can review your specific policy and clarify what applies.
What Happens If the Hit-and-Run Driver Is Never Found After a Hazel Park Accident?
If the at-fault driver is never identified, Michigan victims may still pursue compensation through uninsured motorist coverage or the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan. No-fault PIP benefits remain available regardless of whether the driver is ever found.
When the fleeing driver cannot be located, these options apply:
No-fault PIP covers medical expenses and lost wages through your own insurer. This applies in every hit-and-run regardless of whether the driver is identified.
Uninsured motorist 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. Policy notice requirements for UM claims can be as short as 30 days and must be reviewed immediately after a hit-and-run.
Michigan Assigned Claims Plan. If you have no applicable insurance of your own and no household member with coverage, this state-administered program may provide no-fault benefits by assigning your claim to a participating insurer.
Our attorneys identify which of these paths applies to your situation and pursue the combination that recovers the most. 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.
Past Case Results
Does the Hit-and-Run Driver Face Criminal Charges in Michigan?
Yes. Leaving the scene of an accident is a criminal offense under MCL 257.617. The severity 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.
In Hazel Park, hit-and-run cases that involve a driver fleeing south toward Detroit may involve both the Hazel Park Police Department and the Michigan State Police, depending on where the vehicle is ultimately located or the driver apprehended.
Our attorneys pursue the civil claim on your timeline, independent of how that criminal investigation unfolds. A criminal conviction or guilty plea can support your civil case, but you do not need to wait for it.
If the driver is identified through police investigation, I-75 MDOT cameras, Hazel Park business surveillance, or witness accounts from the border area with Detroit, a full third-party liability claim becomes available in addition to no-fault and UM benefits.
Call us to discuss how we pursue every avenue available in your case.
Ask Kajy Law
Can I file a hit-and-run claim if the driver who fled was never caught in Hazel Park?
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, but policy notice deadlines may apply, so contact an attorney immediately.
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. The practical impact depends on your specific insurer and policy terms. An attorney can walk you through what to expect before you file.
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 within one year of the accident under MCL 500.3145.
For uninsured motorist claims, your policy's internal deadlines may be significantly shorter, sometimes 30 days or less. Acting immediately after the accident is the only way to protect both deadlines.
What if the driver who hit me fled south on I-75 toward Detroit?
I-75 is one of Michigan's most camera-covered corridors, with MDOT managing traffic monitoring systems through the Hazel Park and Detroit stretch. Footage from those cameras, combined with any available business surveillance near the point of impact on Nine Mile Road or John R Road, can identify a fleeing vehicle even when local witnesses could not.
We know which agencies control that footage and how to request it before retention periods expire.
What if I was on foot or cycling on Nine Mile Road when the hit-and-run occurred?
Hit-and-run claims for pedestrians and cyclists in Michigan involve specific no-fault rules about which policy applies. If you were on foot or on a bicycle 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 Hazel Park, 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 within one year of the accident under MCL 500.3145. For uninsured motorist claims, your policy's internal deadlines control, and those can be as short as 30 days.
Missing either deadline can eliminate that source of compensation entirely. Acting quickly also gives your attorney time to request I-75 MDOT camera footage and business surveillance from Nine Mile Road before retention windows close.
What if a witness saw the hit-and-run but I did not get their contact information?
Witnesses can sometimes be located through police reports, social media, or businesses along Nine Mile Road and John R Road where they may have been customers at the time of the crash.
The Hazel Park and Detroit border area also has significant foot traffic at certain hours. We pursue all available witness identification immediately after taking a case, which is one reason contacting an attorney early makes a real practical difference.
Can I sue the hit-and-run driver directly if they are identified later?
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 in progress. 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 if the hit-and-run happened near the Hazel Park and Detroit border?
Location near the Detroit border creates specific investigative considerations. The fleeing driver may have crossed into Detroit immediately after the crash, which can involve Detroit Police Department records in addition to Hazel Park Police reports. It also means MDOT cameras on I-75 south of Nine Mile Road may have captured the vehicle. We account for those jurisdictional details in every investigation involving the southern Hazel Park corridor.
What if the hit-and-run driver was later found to be uninsured?
If the driver is identified and found to have been uninsured, your UM coverage becomes the primary path to pain and suffering recovery in addition to any no-fault PIP benefits. A direct lawsuit against the uninsured driver is also available, though practical collection depends on the driver's financial situation.
We assess all available paths during the initial case review and recommend the combination most likely to produce real recovery for your family.
Related Resources from Kajy Law
These pages may be helpful depending on your situation:
- 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.
- Navigating a Hit-and-Run Accident in Michigan — A deeper look at your rights and options after a hit-and-run in Michigan.
- Accidents Increased Due to the EB-696 Closure — How the I-696 closure has affected crash rates in Hazel Park and surrounding communities.
- Michigan Car Accident Statistics — Data on crash trends across Michigan including Oakland County.
- Case Results — Outcomes our firm has achieved for Michigan accident victims.
- Contact Kajy Law — Reach our team directly.
The Driver Left. Hazel Park's Location Makes Finding Them More Possible Than You Think.
A driver who flees a crash in Hazel Park has fast access to Detroit and I-75. That makes them feel untraceable. But it also puts them on some of the most camera-covered roads in Southeast Michigan.
MDOT traffic monitoring on I-75, surveillance from businesses along Nine Mile Road and John R Road, and the Hazel Park Police Department's coordination with Detroit law enforcement create more investigative pathways than most hit-and-run victims realize.
We know how to use those pathways and how fast we need to move before footage is overwritten. Lawrence Kajy built this firm because he saw what happened when accident victims tried to navigate these situations alone.
Preston Denha has spent his career holding insurers accountable when they use technicalities to deny valid claims in Oakland County communities. Shawn McKay handles the cases that go to court when a fair outcome cannot be reached any other way.
Our office is in Southfield, minutes from Hazel Park, and we serve clients throughout Oakland County seven days a week. No fee unless we recover for you.
Call Kajy Law at 248-702-6641 or contact us online to schedule your free case review.
Kajy Law Firm 18000 W Nine Mile Rd #1400, Southfield, MI 48075