If you were the victim of a hit-and-run accident, you may assume that without an at-fault driver, there’s no way to recover damages. That’s not always the case.

Washington law requires every driver to carry liability insurance, but when a driver disappears, victims have to look elsewhere for coverage. In many cases, one or more of the following may apply:

1. Your Own Insurance Policy – If you have uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, your policy may pay for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Collision coverage may also pay for vehicle damage.
2. A Third-Party Claim – If the hit-and-run happened because of hazardous road conditions or another liable party, you may have a claim against a government agency or business.
3. A Civil Lawsuit – If police identify the driver, you may have the right to file a lawsuit against them for additional damages.

Our Tacoma hit-and-run lawyers can evaluate which options apply to your case and fight back against insurance companies that try to deny claims.

Insurance companies don’t handle hit-and-run claims the same way they handle regular accident claims. Without an at-fault driver to pursue for recovery, insurers take a closer look at the details of the crash and may raise objections before approving a payout. Victims expecting a straightforward claim process may run into unexpected hurdles.

Even when a policy includes uninsured motorist (UM) or collision coverage, insurers may look for ways to reduce or deny the claim. Some of the most common challenges include:

• Lack of Independent Evidence – Insurers may refuse to pay unless there’s proof another driver caused the crash. Without video footage or a witness, they may argue that the damage was from something else.
• Delayed Reporting – Waiting too long to report the accident can lead to suspicion. Some insurers impose strict deadlines for filing a hit-and-run auto accident claim.
• No Proof of Physical Contact – Some policies require evidence that another vehicle actually made contact with the victim’s car. If the hit-and-run driver swerved into a lane and forced another driver to crash without making contact, the claim may be denied.
• Low Settlement Offers – Insurers may acknowledge the claim but offer far less than what’s needed. They want to entice you with a quick payout instead of dealing with the fight for full compensation.

Working with a Tacoma hit-and-run accident lawyer at Freeman Law Firm, Inc., you can challenge an insurance company’s tactics and demand fair treatment.

• Gathering evidence – We will use surveillance footage, accident reconstructions, expert testimony, and other evidence to create a compelling case when an insurer tries to dispute liability.
• Challenging denials – If a claim is wrongfully denied, a lawyer can push back by proving that the accident meets the policy’s requirements for coverage.
• Negotiating a higher settlement – Insurers rely on victims not knowing how much their case is worth. A car accident attorney calculates medical expenses, lost wages, and long-term costs to secure a fair payout.

Even when a hit-and-run driver isn’t found, a hit-and-run car accident lawyer on our team can make sure the insurance company upholds its policy obligations instead of avoiding a proper payout.

Insurance companies focus on initial medical bills, but serious injuries can lead to:

• Ongoing rehabilitation—physical therapy, follow-up surgeries, and long-term care.
• Hidden injuries—conditions like concussions, nerve damage, or PTSD that don’t appear immediately but require treatment later.
• Disability adjustments—costs related to mobility aids, home modifications, or caregiving support.

Without proper documentation and expert medical opinions, insurance companies may try to undervalue or exclude these expenses from a settlement.

Insurers typically compensate victims for immediate missed paychecks, but they tend to push back against claims for:

• Reduced earning capacity—when an injury prevents a return to the same type of work.
• Career impact—especially for self-employed workers or those on career tracks that involve promotions or advancement.
• Retirement losses—if an injury forces early retirement or reduces long-term income potential.

Insurance companies base lost income on past pay stubs, but that doesn’t account for bonuses, career growth, or long-term earning potential. Our lawyers build a case with economic experts, industry analysts, and employment records to prove what a victim’s future income would have been—especially for those in specialized careers or self-employment.

Unlike medical bills or lost wages, there’s no fixed formula for calculating pain and suffering. Insurers use different methods to estimate these damages, but their calculations usually undervalue the real impact on the victim’s life.

Insurance companies assess non-economic damages based on:

• Severity and type of injury – Permanent disabilities or chronic pain typically lead to higher compensation than short-term injuries.
• Impact on daily life – If an injury prevents a victim from working, driving, or performing normal activities, the claim may justify higher damages.
• Emotional and psychological effects – Anxiety, PTSD, or depression tied to the crash can also increase the value of pain and suffering claims.

Since pain and suffering is harder to prove, documentation of the impact of the injury will be important in making your case.

• Keep a daily journal tracking pain levels, emotional distress, and challenges in daily activities.
• Gather testimonies from family, friends, or coworkers who have witnessed the changes in behavior or physical ability.
• Seek medical or psychological evaluations that support the claim for long-term suffering.