Where do I get help to pay for my car accidents and insurance in hit and run?
Generally, you cannot, in the absence of collision or uninsured
motorist coverage. If the hit and run driver is eventually
identified you may be able to sue them personally.
Both collision coverage and uninsured motorist coverage are
"first-party" coverages, meaning that they cover your own
vehicle.
Collision coverage provides property damage for your own vehicle
irrespective of fault for the collision. It is normally subject to
a deductible, meaning there will be an amount that you will have to
pay out of pocket. You will have to check your policy, or with your
insurance agent, to see if you have the coverage, because it is
generally not mandatory. That said, if the vehicle is financed, the
entity through which you financed it may have required that you get
collision coverage to protect the collateral. If you did not, the
company that financed the car may have obtained "force-placed"
coverage for you and charged your account the premium for it.
Therefore, you should contact the finance company and determine if
it did and if so, get the specifics on the coverage so that you can
make a claim.
Uninsured motorist coverage provides benefits to you if you were
injured (usually there is a requirement of permanency, but state
law controls) by the negligence of an uninsured driver. It does not
provide any property damage benefits, so depending upon the damages
that you sustained, it may be moot whether you have it or not. If
your state requires you to maintain liability coverage on your car,
it will generally also require that your insurer have offered you
the chance to buy or to waive the purchase of uninsured motorist
coverage.