AAA's Record-High Hit-and-Run Data Exposes a Growing Crisis on American Roads

The Latest Hit-And-Run Numbers Show Why Crash Victims Need A Plan

Fifteen percent of all police-reported crashes in the United States in 2023 involved a driver who fled the scene of a car accident, the highest percentage recorded in recent years, according to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

That means hit-and-run crashes are not rare, and they’re not limited to one type of road or one type of driver. They happen on freeways, city streets, at intersections, in crosswalks, on shoulders, and on neighborhood roads. For Bay Area crash victims, the problem is even harder because a fleeing driver can leave behind medical bills, vehicle damage, missing insurance information, and few immediate answers.

Pedestrians and cyclists bear some of the worst consequences. The AAA Foundation found that 1 in 4 pedestrians and nearly as many cyclists killed in crashes in 2023 were hit by a driver who fled the scene. Our Bay Area car accident lawyers at Clancy & Diaz, LLP explain what this data means for hit-and-run victims in Northern California and how we can help you protect your claim.

What Did The AAA Foundation’s Hit-And-Run Study Find?

The research, published in March 2026, analyzed police-reported crash data from 2023 and found that hit-and-run crashes reached their highest recorded share of all collisions in recent years. AAA reported that 15 percent of all police-reported crashes involved a driver who fled the scene.

The study also found patterns among drivers identified in fatal hit-and-run crashes. Forty percent did not have a valid driver’s license, and more than half were driving vehicles that were not registered in their own names.

The timing matters too. Hit-and-run fatalities most often happen late at night or in the early morning, when it’s dark and fewer witnesses are around. Researchers also noted that most identified hit-and-run drivers were young, male, and crashed within a short distance of home.

Those findings point to a hard reality for victims. Hit-and-run cases often start with uncertainty. You may not know who hit you, whether they had insurance, whether they were driving someone else’s vehicle, or whether police will find them. That’s exactly why the early investigation matters.

Why Are Pedestrians And Cyclists So Vulnerable?

People walking and biking don’t have the protection of a vehicle frame, airbags, or seat belts. When a driver hits them and keeps going, the injuries can be catastrophic, and the delay in getting help can make everything worse.

A pedestrian accident victim may be too badly hurt to identify the vehicle, note a license plate, or call 911. A cyclist may be thrown from the bike, left in the roadway, or unable to explain what happened when emergency responders arrive.

That’s why hit-and-run crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists are so serious. The victim often can’t protect the evidence on their own. Nearby cameras, vehicle debris, witness accounts, and police reports may be the only path to identifying the driver.

Bay Area roads create added risk because drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, rideshare vehicles, commuters, and delivery traffic often share the same crowded space. When a driver flees, the victim is left dealing with the physical harm and the insurance questions at the same time.

Why Do Hit-And-Run Crashes Put Roadside Workers At Risk?

Roadside service providers face danger every time they step out of a vehicle to help someone. According to AAA’s tracking of reported roadside worker fatalities, 15 roadside workers were struck and killed last year, and at least 6 of those 15 were killed by a driver who fled the scene.

These workers may be changing tires, towing vehicles, assisting stranded drivers, clearing disabled cars, or responding near traffic. They’re often working close to moving vehicles, sometimes in the dark, on shoulders, or near high-speed traffic.

California drivers should slow down, move over when possible, and stay alert around flashing lights, emergency vehicles, tow trucks, and roadside workers. When they don’t, the results can be devastating.

What Solutions Could Reduce Hit-And-Run Crashes?

The AAA Foundation’s research points to several practical measures that could save lives and make it harder for drivers to flee without consequences.

• Automatic Crash Notifications: Vehicles and smartphones may be able to detect a serious crash and alert emergency responders when an injured person can’t call for help.
• Safer Road Design: Better crosswalks, lighting, protected bike lanes, traffic calming, and safer intersections can reduce the risk of serious crashes involving people walking and biking.
• Traffic Cameras and Yellow Alerts: Camera footage and public alert systems can help identify fleeing drivers after serious or fatal crashes.
• Stronger Accountability Measures: Clear legal consequences and consistent enforcement can make fleeing the scene a riskier choice for drivers.

Together, these measures target two major problems in hit-and-run cases: how quickly an injured person receives help and how likely the fleeing driver is to be caught.

Can You Still Recover Compensation If The Driver Fled?

Yes. A hit-and-run driver does not get to avoid responsibility just because they left the scene. California Vehicle Code Section 20001 requires a driver involved in a crash causing injury or death to stop immediately and fulfill the legal duties that follow. A driver who flees can face criminal consequences and civil liability if identified.

The bigger challenge is often finding the driver and determining what insurance coverage exists. Some hit-and-run drivers are never identified. Others are found but do not have valid insurance, were driving someone else’s vehicle, or were not properly licensed.

That’s why hit-and-run victims should not assume there’s no path forward. Compensation may still be available through the driver’s insurance, the vehicle owner’s insurance, an employer’s policy, a rideshare policy, or the victim’s own uninsured motorist coverage, depending on the facts.

How Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Help?

Uninsured motorist coverage is often one of the most important protections after a hit-and-run crash. It’s part of your own auto policy and can apply when the at-fault driver can’t be identified or does not have insurance.

In many California hit-and-run cases, the fleeing driver is treated like an uninsured driver because their insurance information was never obtained. That can allow an injured person to make a claim through their own policy for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses.

But your own insurance company still may not make the process easy. Adjusters may dispute how the crash happened, whether the hit-and-run qualifies under the policy, how badly you were hurt, or how much your claim is worth.

That can feel frustrating because you paid for the coverage. Still, the insurance company’s goal may be to limit what it pays. Having a lawyer involved can help ensure the claim is properly documented, valued, and handled.

What Evidence Can Help Identify A Hit-And-Run Driver?

Even when a driver flees, evidence often exists. The key is to act quickly before footage disappears, debris is cleared, witnesses leave, or vehicle damage is repaired.

Useful sources include:

• Nearby Surveillance and Dashcam Footage: Homes, businesses, parking lots, buses, rideshare vehicles, and other cars may have captured the fleeing vehicle.
• Paint Transfer and Vehicle Debris: Broken lights, mirrors, trim pieces, paint transfer, and other fragments can help identify the vehicle’s make, model, color, or direction of travel.
• Witness Accounts: Someone nearby may have seen a partial license plate, vehicle color, damage location, driver description, or the driver's direction.
• Traffic and Red-Light Camera Footage: Cameras at nearby intersections may capture the fleeing vehicle before or after the crash.
• Police and Accident Reports: A report can document the crash, preserve early statements, and create an official record that may be important for insurance claims.

Calling police right away gives investigators the best chance to use this evidence before it disappears. It also helps document that the crash was a hit-and-run, which can matter later if you need to file an uninsured motorist claim.

What Should You Do After A Bay Area Hit-And-Run?

A hit-and-run crash can leave you shaken, injured, and unsure what to do next. The first priority is safety and medical care. After that, the focus should shift to preserving evidence and protecting your insurance claim.

Important steps include:

• Call 911: Report the crash immediately, especially if anyone is hurt or the fleeing vehicle may still be nearby.
• Get Medical Help: Some injuries may not be obvious right away, and medical records can connect your injuries to the crash.
• Write Down What You Remember: Note the vehicle’s color, shape, make, model, license plate digits, damage, direction of travel, and anything you noticed about the driver.
• Look For Cameras: Nearby homes, businesses, traffic lights, parking lots, buses, and rideshare vehicles may have footage.
• Report the Claim Carefully: Your insurer may need notice quickly, but what you say can affect the claim. Be accurate and avoid guessing.

Knowing what to do after a car accident can make a major difference, especially when the other driver is gone and the insurance company starts asking questions.

How Do Insurance Companies Handle Hit-And-Run Claims?

Insurance companies may treat hit-and-run claims as suspicious or incomplete, even when the victim did everything right. They may ask whether another vehicle actually caused the crash, whether you reported it quickly enough, whether there was physical contact, or whether your injuries are related.

They may also delay, request repeated statements, ask for more records, or offer less than the claim is worth. This can happen even when the claim is filed through your own uninsured motorist coverage.

That’s why hit-and-run victims should be careful when dealing with insurance companies after a car accident. An adjuster may sound helpful, but their job is still to protect the company’s bottom line.

How Can A Bay Area Car Accident Lawyer Help?

Being hit by a driver who never stopped leaves you dealing with injuries, medical bills, missing insurance information, and a claim that can feel stacked against you from the start.

Our Bay Area car accident attorneys at Clancy & Diaz, LLP know how to build hit-and-run claims even when the driver is never found. We can investigate the crash, pursue uninsured motorist coverage, identify the fleeing driver, work with the insurance company, and demand the compensation you deserve.

Our results reflect that approach, including a $1.4 million recovery for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle in the Bay Area.

If you or someone you love was hurt by a driver who fled the scene, contact us today for a free consultation. There are no legal fees unless we recover compensation for you. That’s how we work. That’s because we’re driven to win.

"Pete Clancy will always be our HERO. I hired Pete in 2012 after my son was killed while jogging. I wanted justice for my son, and Pete was there to help me. I trusted Pete from day one, and he came through with a win, which meant the driver was held accountable for NEGLIGENCE! Pete was always honest and upfront with me through the whole ordeal. He was always kind and compassionate since I was a basket case through most of the process. Pete was my rock and got me through each step I was required to take. You will never find a better attorney and now friend!!!" - D.O., ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐