Car, motorcycle and pedestrian
Dallas hit and run and uninsured driver lawyer.
When the driver who hit you drives off, or stays but has no insurance, it can feel like no one will pay. In Texas the answer is often your own policy: uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is part of every auto policy unless you turned it down in writing. That claim is against your own company, which will treat you like any other claimant. We report it the right way, look for the driver and the cameras, and handle the claim so it is paid on what it is really worth.
Right now
If the driver fled or has no insurance.
- 01
Call 911 right away, and do not chase
A prompt police report is the backbone of a hit-and-run claim, and many policies require it. Following the other car puts you at risk and does not help the claim.
- 02
Write down everything about the vehicle
Color, make, type, partial plate, damage, stickers, direction of travel and anything about the driver. Ask witnesses to stay and give their names to police.
- 03
If the driver stayed, get their information anyway
Name, license, plate and the name of the vehicle's owner, even if they say they have no insurance. Photograph their license and the car. Sometimes the owner or an employer does have coverage.
- 04
Get medical care today
Go to the ER, urgent care or your doctor. Your own PIP coverage can pay early medical bills no matter who was at fault.
- 05
Notify your own insurance promptly
Your policy requires prompt notice and cooperation. Your company may ask for a recorded statement. Talk to us first so it is done right, because your own insurer is now on the other side of the claim.
- 06
Call us before you sign anything
The first consultation is free, in English or Spanish.
Key deadlines and numbers
- Your UM and UIM coverage
- Included in every Texas auto policy unless you rejected it in writingSource: Tex. Ins. Code 1952.101
- Your PIP coverage
- At least $2,500 for medical bills and lost pay, no matter who was at faultSource: Tex. Ins. Code 1952.152
- Leaving an injury crash
- A felony for the driver: third degree, or second degree with serious injury or deathSource: Tex. Transp. Code 550.021
- Minimum insurance in Texas
- $30,000 per person, $60,000 per crash, $25,000 propertySource: Tex. Transp. Code 601.072
- Deadline to sue the driver
- 2 years from the crash. Claims under your own policy have their own conditionsSource: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 16.003
Texas law
How Texas law handles a driver who fled or had no insurance.
The driver who hit you is still responsible, and if found, can be sued. But a driver who fled or carries no insurance often has nothing to collect. That is why Texas requires insurers to include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage in your policy. It pays what the at-fault driver should have paid, up to your limits.
| Coverage | What it does |
|---|---|
| PIP (personal injury protection) | Pays medical bills and lost pay quickly, regardless of fault, up to your limit. |
| Uninsured motorist (UM) | Pays your injury damages when the at-fault driver had no insurance or could not be identified. |
| Underinsured motorist (UIM) | Pays the rest when the at-fault driver's policy is too small for your damages. |
| UM property damage | Pays for your car when an uninsured driver damaged it, usually with a deductible. |
| Collision | Repairs your car regardless of fault, minus your deductible. |
| Crime Victims' Compensation | A state fund that may help victims of a hit and run with costs other sources do not cover. |
You probably have UM coverage
Insurers must include UM and UIM coverage unless you rejected it in writing. If your company says you do not have it, we ask for the signed rejection. Without one, the coverage may still apply.
Source: Tex. Ins. Code 1952.101Hit and run claims usually need contact
Texas policies generally cover an unidentified hit-and-run driver when that vehicle actually struck you or your car. A driver who forced you off the road without touching you is harder to cover, so witnesses and video matter even more.
Source: Tex. Ins. Code ch. 1952Your own company becomes the other side
In a UM or UIM claim, your insurer stands in the at-fault driver's shoes. You still have to prove the other driver was at fault and what your damages are, and the company may dispute both. Sometimes that takes a lawsuit against your own insurer.
Settling with an underinsured driver takes care
When the at-fault driver's policy is small, accepting it the wrong way can hurt your UIM claim. Many policies require you to notify your own company before you settle. We handle the order and the paperwork.
How we work
How we build a hit and run or uninsured driver claim.
Mr. Estrada reads your file and sets the strategy. Our team works the details with him, and you get updates in English or Spanish.
01
Look for the driver
We canvass for business, apartment, doorbell and traffic cameras, follow up with the investigating officer, and check whether parts left at the scene point to a vehicle. A driver who is found may have insurance after all.
02
Find every policy
The driver's policy if there is one, the vehicle owner's, an employer's, your own UM, UIM and PIP, and policies of relatives you live with that may also cover you.
03
Check your policy line by line
Your declarations page, any written rejection of UM or PIP, notice requirements and limits. When a rejection is missing or defective, coverage may still be there.
04
Prove fault and damages to your own insurer
The crash report, witnesses, photos, medical records and bills. For serious injuries the firm works with medical professionals, life care planners and economists.
05
Negotiate, and sue when needed
Most UM and UIM claims settle. When your company will not pay what the claim is worth, we file suit, against the driver, your insurer or both, and prepare it for trial.
Who handles it
The lawyer on the sign is the lawyer on your case.
Mr. Estrada has practiced in Texas since 2003, in state court and in the Northern, Eastern and Western federal districts of Texas. He reads the file and sets the strategy, with associates and staff who work the case alongside him. Everything is explained to you in English or Spanish.
What clients say
“Our experience with this law firm was simply everything we could've asked for. They answered all of our questions in a timely manner, followed up with us. As for pricing, it was very reasonable and honestly less than we anticipated. Last, but not least, thank you Liz and Vianey for being so helpful throughout this process.”Questions people ask us about money and paperwork.
- Who pays my medical bills right now?
- Your PIP first, then health insurance, or a doctor who agrees to wait for the case. The state victims' fund may help with what is left. We help you line this up.
- Will my rates go up if I use my own coverage?
- Texas has rules that limit what an insurer can do because of a claim where you were not at fault. Ask us to look at your policy and your company's notices before you worry about it.
- What about my car?
- UM property damage or your collision coverage can pay for repairs, each with its own deductible. If the driver is found and insured, that deductible can be recovered.
- Do I need papers or a license to make a claim?
- If someone else caused the crash, you can make a claim. Talk to us privately about your situation. What you tell us stays between you and the firm.
Dallas and Odessa
Hit and run and uninsured crashes in Dallas and Odessa.
Many drivers on Dallas roads carry no insurance or only the state minimum, and hit and runs happen every night on I-35E, I-30, Loop 12, US-67 and the streets of Oak Cliff and southern Dallas. In Odessa and Midland, I-20, SH-191 and the oilfield roads see the same problem with pickups and work vehicles. From both offices we know the police departments that investigate these crashes and how to follow up with them.
FAQ
Questions people ask.
What if the hit-and-run driver is never found?
Your own uninsured motorist coverage can treat the unknown driver as uninsured, as long as the policy conditions are met, such as a prompt police report and, in most policies, actual contact with your vehicle. PIP also pays regardless of fault.
The other driver had no insurance. Can I still get paid?
Usually, through your own UM coverage, which you have unless you rejected it in writing. You can also sue the driver, but drivers without insurance often have little to collect.
What is the difference between UM and UIM?
UM pays when the at-fault driver had no insurance or could not be identified. UIM pays when the driver had insurance but not enough to cover your damages. In Texas they usually come together on the same policy.
How do I know if I rejected UM coverage?
Check your declarations page. If it is not listed, ask your company for the signed written rejection. The law requires a written rejection, and we review it when coverage is denied.
A driver ran me off the road but never touched my car. Am I covered?
It is harder. Many Texas policies require physical contact for an unidentified driver. Independent witnesses or video can make a difference, and PIP and collision coverage still apply.
Do I have to sue my own insurance company?
Not always. Many UM and UIM claims settle. When your company disputes fault or the value of your injuries, a lawsuit may be needed to establish both before it has to pay.
How much does it cost to hire you?
The first consultation is free. Injury cases are handled on a contingency fee, which means the fee comes out of the recovery, not out of your pocket. We explain the exact terms, including case costs, before you sign.
Related situations
- Car accidents
- Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
- Drunk driver crashes
- Rear end collisions
- Motorcycle accidents
- Uber and Lyft accidents
- All: Personal Injury
Updated October 2026
This page is general information about Texas law, not legal advice for your situation. Reading it does not create an attorney client relationship. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a future outcome.
Two offices
Oak Cliff and Odessa.
Mon to Fri 9 to 5, Sat 9 to 12. Emergencies 24/7 by phone.
Law Office of Olegario Estrada, P.C.
We explain everything.We answer 24/7.Se habla español.
Free consultation by phone, video, or in person. Offices in Dallas and Odessa.