Don't chase the fleeing driver. Call 911 from the scene, write down everything you saw, and see a doctor within 14 days to protect your PIP benefits. Even if the driver is never found, your own PIP — and uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, if you carry it — can pay your medical bills and losses.
First moves: stay, call, document
After a hit-and-run in Miami, the single most important rule is: don't chase. Following the fleeing car risks a second crash — and if you leave, you may violate your own duty to stay at the scene. Stay put, check for injuries, and call 911 immediately.
While you wait for police, write down everything you remember about the other vehicle — make, model, color, any piece of the tag number, damage you saw, and which way it went. Ask every witness for a name and phone number, and look around for cameras: Miami storefronts, gas stations, doorbells, and traffic cameras capture many hit-and-runs. Note them for your attorney — much of that footage is overwritten within 30 days.
Then follow the same steps as any Florida crash in the first 72 hours: photograph the scene and your vehicle, get the police report number, and get medical care fast.
You can still be paid — even if the driver is never found
Your own policy does more than most people think. Florida PIP (Fla. Stat. § 627.736) is no-fault coverage: it pays 80% of your medical bills and 60% of lost wages up to $10,000 regardless of who caused the crash or whether they stopped — but only if your first medical visit happens within 14 days.
Beyond PIP, uninsured motorist (UM) coverage (Fla. Stat. § 627.727) is the coverage built for exactly this: The Florida Bar notes it applies in hit-and-run and "phantom vehicle" situations, stepping in for the driver who can't be found. UM is optional in Florida — insurers must offer it, but you can reject it in writing — so many Miami drivers don't know whether they have it. Check your policy, or let our car accident team read it for you; UM claims also have their own notice rules, so report the crash to your insurer promptly.
What Florida law does to drivers who flee
Leaving the scene is a crime in Florida, and the penalties climb with the harm. Fleeing a crash with only property damage is a second-degree misdemeanor (Fla. Stat. § 316.061). If anyone is injured, it becomes a felony under Fla. Stat. § 316.027 — and if someone dies, it is a first-degree felony carrying a mandatory minimum of 4 years in prison under the Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act.
The problem is real and local. FLHSMV counted 104,273 hit-and-run crashes in Florida in 2023, killing 271 people — and roughly three-quarters of those killed were pedestrians and cyclists. Miami-Dade has historically recorded more hit-and-run crashes than any other Florida county, with roughly 19,000 in 2024 according to FLHSMV crash-dashboard data.
How hit-and-run drivers get found
Many fleeing drivers are identified in the days after the crash — through camera footage, paint transfer and debris left at the scene, body-shop tips, and witnesses who come forward. Anonymous tips go to Crime Stoppers at **TIPS (8477) — in Miami-Dade, (305) 471-TIPS — and FLHSMV runs a statewide "Stay at the Scene" awareness campaign urging witnesses to report what they saw.
Speed matters more here than in any other kind of case: footage gets overwritten, damaged cars get repaired, and tips go cold. At Dream Team Law, our Miami team moves immediately to preserve evidence and identify every policy that can pay — yours and, if the driver is found, theirs. The consultation is free, and you pay nothing unless we win.
Frequently asked questions
Will my insurance pay if the hit-and-run driver is never found?+
Often yes — your PIP pays up to $10,000 of medical bills and lost wages no matter who caused the crash, and uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, if your policy includes it, covers hit-and-run and phantom-driver crashes. An attorney can also check for other policies in your household that may apply.
What if I only got a partial plate — or no plate at all?+
Report it anyway. Police can work with partial plates, vehicle descriptions, and camera footage, and a UM claim does not require the driver to ever be identified. Give police and your attorney everything you remember, however small.
How long do I have to act after a hit-and-run in Miami?+
Call police immediately from the scene, and see a doctor within 14 days or you lose your PIP benefits. The lawsuit deadline is generally two years, but UM policies require prompt notice — so report the crash to your own insurer right away.
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice; reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Deadlines depend on the specific facts of your case — consult a licensed attorney in your state about your situation. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.