Someone hit you and drove away. You are left with injuries, a damaged vehicle, and a claim process that feels designed for situations where the other driver stayed. It was not designed for yours, but Michigan law still gives you real options, and the driver who fled is counting on you not knowing that.
Our hit-and-run accident lawyers serve Oak 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 Oak 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, 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 Greenfield Road, Nine Mile Road, or anywhere else in Oak 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 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 result 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 Oak 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 interest is not the same as yours. An attorney levels that dynamic from the very first call.
There is also a critical detail that most Oak Park hit-and-run victims never learn until it is too late. Some Michigan auto insurance policies include contract language requiring written notice within 30 days of a hit-and-run to preserve your right to uninsured motorist benefits.
Missing that internal deadline, which is separate from Michigan's legal statute of limitations, can eliminate a significant source of recovery entirely. An attorney reviews your policy immediately and ensures every deadline is protected.
Beyond that, here is where legal representation makes a concrete difference:
Your insurer handles the claim differently when you have counsel. Adjusters move faster and more carefully when an attorney is involved. Lowball offers made to unrepresented claimants are common practice. They are far less common when the other side knows the claim will be scrutinized.
Evidence in Oak Park disappears quickly. Surveillance footage from businesses along Greenfield Road, Nine Mile Road, and the commercial corridors near I-696 gets overwritten within days. Traffic camera data from Oakland County intersections has a similarly short retention window. We move immediately to 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 reduces your recovery.
The driver may still be found. Law enforcement continues investigating 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 before you speak with any insurer.
How Does Michigan No-Fault Insurance Apply to Hit-and-Run Accidents in Oak 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 identified. This is one of the core protections under Michigan's no-fault system, governed by 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. If the hit-and-run driver is never found, uninsured motorist coverage on your own policy 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 our initial evaluation to identify every available benefit, including any internal notice requirements that could affect your claim.
Note: Michigan's no-fault coverage levels and PIP options were restructured under the 2019 auto insurance reform. The benefits available depend on the coverage level your policy selected. An attorney can review your specific policy and clarify what applies.
Hear From Our Clients
What Happens If the Hit-and-Run Driver Is Never Found in Oak Park?
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 case regardless of identification.
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 Oak Park drivers carry it. Policy notice requirements for UM claims vary and must be reviewed immediately after a hit-and-run.
Michigan Assigned Claims Plan. If you have no applicable insurance of your own, 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 for your family.
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. Leaving the scene of an accident is a criminal offense in Michigan under MCL 257.617, and the severity of the charge depends on the circumstances of the crash.
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 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 timeline, independent of how the criminal process unfolds.
If the driver is eventually identified through police investigation, surveillance footage, witness accounts from nearby Oak Park businesses, or other means, a full liability claim against them becomes available in addition to your no-fault and UM benefits.
Call us to discuss every avenue available in your case.
Ask Kajy Law
Can I file a hit-and-run claim if the driver was never caught in Oak 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 cover 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 as soon as possible.
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 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 under MCL 500.3145. For uninsured motorist claims, your policy's internal deadlines may be shorter, sometimes as little as 30 days. Speaking with an attorney immediately after the accident protects every available deadline.
What if the hit-and-run happened near I-696 or on a busy Oak Park road?
Location matters for evidence. The I-696 corridor and commercial roads like Greenfield and Nine Mile have traffic infrastructure and business cameras that may have captured the fleeing vehicle.
We move immediately to request and preserve that footage before it is overwritten. Even a partial image of the vehicle can help law enforcement identify the driver.
What if I was hit as a pedestrian or cyclist in Oak Park?
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 bike 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 Oak 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 terms control the deadline, which may be significantly shorter than one year. Missing either deadline can bar your right to those benefits entirely.
Acting quickly also gives your attorney time to preserve surveillance footage and other evidence before it disappears.
What if my insurance company denies my hit-and-run claim?
Insurance companies deny hit-and-run claims for several reasons, including missed notice deadlines, disputes over whether a physical contact occurred, and arguments about coverage scope. A denial is not final.
Our attorneys review the basis of any denial, respond with evidence and legal argument, and pursue every available appeal or legal remedy.
Clients of Kajy Law have described our team going out of their way to help even in complex, disputed claims.
Does the hit-and-run vehicle need to have physically contacted my car for me to file a UM claim?
Michigan law and individual policy terms vary on the physical contact requirement for uninsured motorist claims. Some policies require direct physical contact between the fleeing vehicle and your car. Others do not. This is one of the first things we review in your policy during the initial case evaluation, because it directly affects which recovery path is available to you.
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 nearby businesses along Oak Park's commercial corridors. Surveillance footage from surrounding properties can also capture bystanders who may have witnessed the crash.
We pursue all available evidence immediately, 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.
Related Resources from Kajy Law
These pages may be helpful depending on your situation:
- Oak Park Rideshare Accident Lawyer — What to do when an Uber or Lyft driver is involved in your Oak Park accident.
- Oak Park Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer — How impaired driving cases in Oak Park affect liability and your claim.
- 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.
- Case Results — Outcomes our firm has achieved for Michigan accident victims.
- Contact Kajy Law — Reach our team directly.
The Driver Left. We Make Sure That Decision Has Consequences.
A hit-and-run driver in Oak Park is counting on confusion, on you not knowing your deadlines, not knowing your coverage, and not knowing that evidence pointing to them may already exist on cameras along Greenfield Road or near the I-696 interchange. We know what to look for and how fast to move.
Lawrence Kajy built this firm because he saw what happened when accident victims tried to navigate these situations without real legal support. Shawn McKay, our Head of Litigation and a Super Lawyers Rising Star, handles the cases where the path forward is not obvious.
Preston Denha, our Managing Attorney and a lifelong Metro Detroit resident, focuses on holding insurance companies accountable when they use technicalities to deny or reduce valid claims.
Our office is in Southfield, minutes from Oak 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