If a driver struck you in Dublin and fled the scene, you may feel that your options for recovering fair compensation are limited, but there may be more options than you realize.
The Fitch Law Firm has represented injured people across central Ohio for more than 30 years. If you were hurt by a driver who left without stopping, we are prepared to help you identify every source of coverage available to you. Call (614) 545-3930 for a free consultation in English or Español.
Who Pays When the Driver Who Hit You Cannot Be Found
In a typical crash, the at-fault driver’s insurance policy sets the ceiling on your claim. When the driver is never identified, your own coverage sets that ceiling instead. Compensation generally comes from the uninsured motorist (UM) coverage on your own auto policy, as Ohio law treats an unidentified driver as an uninsured motorist, allowing you to bring a claim under your own policy.
But not every insured motorist has UM coverage included in their policy. In the state of Ohio, insurers may offer this coverage, but they are not required to, and many Ohio drivers may decline it to reduce their premium.
Finding Every Policy That May Apply to Your Claim
Because your own coverage sets the ceiling, our attorneys begin by identifying every policy that could contribute to your recovery. We encourage clients to gather their declarations page — the one or two-page summary of their policy details — for each of the following:
| Coverage source | What to look for | Why it matters in a hit-and-run claim |
| Your auto policy | “Uninsured Motorist — Bodily Injury” | The primary source of compensation when the driver is never identified |
| Every other household vehicle | Whether each vehicle is on the same policy or a separate one | Determines whether combining limits is even possible |
| A spouse’s or resident relative’s policy | Whether you qualify as an insured under it | A second policy may provide a second layer of coverage |
| Personal umbrella policy | Whether excess UM/UIM coverage was specifically added | Many umbrella policies exclude UM/UIM unless it was elected |
| Medical payments (MedPay) | Any dollar amount listed | Pays medical bills regardless of fault, usually the fastest available funds |
| Employer’s auto policy | Applies only if you were working at the time | Non-owned auto coverage may apply |
| Health insurance | Coordination of benefits and subrogation terms | Determines who pays first and who must be reimbursed |
The Last Thing You Should Worry About Is How You’re Going To Pay For Your Medical Bills.
(614) 545-3930
What Ohio Law Requires You to Prove
According to Ohio law, obtaining compensation from a hit-and-run accident claim requires corroborating evidence that establishes the phantom driver as the cause of your damages and injuries.
Your own testimony alone won’t satisfy this requirement, but additional evidence that reflects your account (e.g. a police report or medical documentation) can be legally sufficient.
Preserving the Evidence Before It Disappears
Evidence in hit-and-run cases have a short life, and much of it is controlled by third parties who have no obligation to keep it.
If your crash occurred on highways like I-270 or US 33, you request a copy of their footage through the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Traffic Management Center video request form. However, ODOT only maintains footage for 72 hours, which means the recorded video may be gone after this time window.
Elsewhere in Dublin, private systems are commonly overwritten anywhere from a couple days a month.
| Area | Likely footage sources |
| Bridge Park | Structured parking garages, restaurant and retail entrances, apartment lobbies — the densest camera coverage in the city |
| Historic Dublin (N. High Street, Bridge Street) | Storefront cameras, often on short retention cycles |
| Sawmill Road, Avery-Muirfield Drive, Frantz Road | Retail, bank, and fuel-stop cameras |
| Emerald Parkway and the office corridors | Corporate campus perimeter cameras |
| Residential Dublin | High doorbell-camera density; frequently the best source in a neighborhood crash |
| Multi-use paths and the Dublin Link | Municipal and adjacent-business cameras; relevant to pedestrian and cyclist claims |
Sending preservation letters to local businesses and establishments near to the scene of your accident will prove more efficient two days after your crash rather than twenty. Contacting legal representation as soon as you can after your hit-and-run allows an attorney to take action promptly and preserve vital evidence. You can call The Fitch Law Firm now and learn more about how we can help you.
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What to Do in the First 72 Hours
- Call 911 from the scene, even if the other vehicle has already left. Do not chase after the fleeing car.
- Write down everything you recall about the vehicle — color, body style, direction of travel, any partial plate or markings.
- Collect names and phone numbers from anyone who witnessed the accident.
- Photograph your vehicle before any repair, including paint transfer and damage angles.
- Seek medical evaluation the same day. Gaps in treatment are the first thing an adjuster will raise issue with.
- Submit an ODOT footage request within 72 hours if the crash occurred on I-270 or US 33.
- Request preservation of video from nearby businesses and parking garages.
- Notify your own insurance company promptly. Most policies contain a notice condition, and late notice is a common basis for denial.
- Gather every declarations page in your household. This is the step most people skip.
How Common Are Hit and Run Crashes?
According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, a hit-and-run crash happens somewhere in the U.S. approximately every 43 seconds, amounting to a total of 737,100 hit-skips a year. Furthermore, their 2026 research brief reported that 15% of all police-reported crashes in the United States during 2023 involved a driver who fled the scene — the highest share recorded in any recent year. Hit-and-run crashes accounted for 10% of all crash injuries and 7% of crash deaths that year, both record highs.
Hit-and-runs are not the most common type of accident, but neither are they rare, extraordinary phenomena. If you are one of the hundreds of thousands of drivers harmed by phantom drivers, you deserve the ability to pursue accountability and obtain monetary compensation.
Common Misconceptions About Hit and Run Claims in Ohio
“Ohio does not allow stacking.”
Ohio permits the practice of stacking, but they also permit insurers to preclude stacking through policy-specific language.
“My umbrella policy covers this.”
Some personal umbrella policies include excess UM/UIM coverage; many exclude it unless it was specifically added.
“There were no witnesses, so I have no claim.”
Smith v. Erie held that a police report and medical records based on the insured’s own account can satisfy Ohio’s corroboration requirement.
“The other vehicle never touched me.”
Ohio recognizes no-contact “phantom vehicle” claims.
“It happened in a parking garage, so it does not count.”
Ohio Revised Code § 4549.021 addresses accidents on private property, which means that uninsured motorist coverage does not stop at the curb.
What It Costs to Work with Our Firm
Because The Fitch Law Firm strongly believes in lowering barriers to justice, our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis.
What this means for you:
- Your first step is a completely complimentary, no-obligation legal consultation
- You pay no hourly rates or upfront retainer
- You pay noting out of pocket while the case is pending
- If we are not able to obtain compensation for you, you will owe no attorney’s fee
Speak With a Dublin Hit and Run Accident Lawyer Today
If you were seriously harmed in a hit-and-run accident, you are likely facing medical bills, time off work, and growing questions about what comes next. Attempting to navigate the claims process on your own on top of that can easily become overwhelming. That’s where a knowledgeable to hit-and-run attorney can step in to help lift some of your legal burden.
To help alleviate some of your burden, our legal team can:
- Investigate your hit-and-run collision
- Help gather police reports and other relevant documentation
- Obtain relevant forms of evidence
- Work with medical professionals to document injuries
- Handle uninsured and underinsured motorist claims
- Negotiate with insurance companies
- Identify liable parties
- Assess your potential recoverable damages
Our legal team can help you secure financial recovery to assist you in receiving treatment from highly rated Central Ohio medical centers like, for example, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and OhioHealth Riverside Methodist.
We’ll take care of your legal needs so that you can focus on recovery.
Call The Fitch Law Firm today at (614) 810-7338 to learn more about how our attorneys can help you.