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To file an uninsured motorist (UM) claim, notify your own insurer promptly, say whether the other driver was uninsured or unidentified, and ask which policy provisions, forms, and deadlines apply. Then submit the records supporting your injuries or vehicle loss and keep copies of every communication. UM coverage comes from your own auto policy, and eligibility, hit-and-run requirements, and deadlines depend on your state and policy.
What an uninsured motorist claim can cover
Uninsured motorist coverage is part of your own auto insurance policy. It may respond when an at-fault driver has no liability insurance; some UM situations can also involve hit-and-run crashes or liability coverage that is denied or insolvent. Whether a particular loss qualifies depends on your policy and state law. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) explains these UM situations in its consumer guidance.
Injuries and vehicle damage are separate questions
Uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI) and uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) are distinct coverage categories. Having one does not establish that you have the other, or that a given loss is covered. Availability, limits, deductibles, and hit-and-run treatment vary. Maryland’s insurance regulator advises consumers to check their policy for coverage amounts and deductibles: Maryland uninsured motorist coverage.
Check your declarations page and UM endorsement for the coverages and limits you actually carry. If your car is damaged, ask the adjuster whether UM property damage, collision coverage, or another part of your policy may apply; do not assume UM automatically pays for repairs.
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What to do after a crash with an uninsured or unidentified driver
1. Take care of safety and report the crash
Get emergency medical help if needed, remain at the scene, and follow police instructions. If it is safe, photograph the scene and vehicle damage, and collect the other driver’s identifying and insurance information when available. Get names and contact details for witnesses.
For a hit-and-run, report the crash to law enforcement promptly and ask how to get a copy of the report. Keep the report number. Reporting requirements are not uniform: Washington, for example, has a 72-hour reporting rule for phantom-vehicle accidents. That is a Washington-specific rule, not a nationwide deadline. See the Washington insurance regulator’s crash guidance. Illinois warns that a company could deny a hit-and-run vehicle-damage claim without a police report; see the Illinois Department of Insurance’s auto insurance guidance.
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2. Notify your insurer and identify the claim
Call the claims number on your insurance card or use your insurer’s official claims channel. Explain that the other driver appears uninsured or unidentified and that you want the insurer to evaluate a UM claim. Ask for a claim number and the assigned adjuster’s contact details.
Ask the insurer to confirm in writing which coverage sections it is considering, what forms or records it needs, and every notice, proof-of-loss, inspection, or other deadline. Review the policy’s “Duties After a Loss” or similar section, along with the declarations and UM endorsement. Illinois’s regulator advises notifying the insurer immediately and reviewing policy conditions in its auto insurance guidance.
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Keep an incident file and send records that are relevant to your claim and reasonably requested by the insurer. Depending on the circumstances, it may include:
- The police report or report number, scene and damage photos or video, and witness names and contact details.
- The other vehicle’s and driver’s details, if known, and any available information about the driver’s insurance status.
- For an injury claim: medical visit and treatment records, bills, and documentation of lost wages.
- For vehicle damage: inspection records, repair estimates, invoices, and receipts.
- Claim forms and copies of emails or letters, plus a call log with dates, names, and a brief note of what was discussed.
The exact document list is claim- and insurer-specific. Keep copies of everything you submit. Regulator guidance stresses documenting the crash, cooperating with the investigation, and supplying required proof of loss; see the Washington guidance and Illinois guidance.
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4. Cooperate with the investigation and coordinate repairs
Answer reasonable requests and attend an inspection if the insurer asks. Ask the adjuster to explain in writing which coverage and policy terms are under review. If the vehicle is damaged, Illinois’s regulator advises showing it to the insurer before repairs and protecting it from further damage. Where practicable, confirm inspection and repair authorization with the adjuster before authorizing work.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which deadlines and requirements should you check?
There is no single nationwide UM filing deadline. Your policy and state law may set different requirements for initial notice, a proof-of-loss form, hit-and-run reporting, or later arbitration or legal action. An insurer may require a proof-of-loss form by a date stated in the policy; Illinois warns that missing such a deadline could lead to denial.
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State rules can also be specific to a particular type of claim. For example, a North Carolina statute addressing certain bodily-injury claims involving an unidentified vehicle calls for reporting the collision to an appropriate official within 24 hours or as soon as practicable and separately addresses notice to the insurer. That provision applies to its statutory context, not every UM claim or every state. See North Carolina General Statutes § 20-279.21.
Check your policy promptly, and ask the adjuster to list all applicable deadlines in writing. If a deadline may have passed, or the dispute has legal consequences, contact your state insurance department or a qualified local attorney rather than assuming the claim can wait.
What to do if the insurer delays or denies the claim
First, ask the insurer to identify the policy wording and facts supporting its decision. Keep the denial letter, claim forms, and complete communication history. If you cannot resolve the issue through the insurer’s claims process, you can submit a complaint to your state insurance department. The NAIC provides a directory of state insurance departments and identifies claim delays and denials among common complaint reasons.
A regulator complaint is a consumer-assistance route; it does not itself establish coverage or replace applicable policy, arbitration, or lawsuit deadlines.
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