Protect yourself from uninsured and underinsured drivers.

Car accidents happen all too frequently. Did you know approximately 6 million occur in the U.S. each year Opens in new window?‍ ‍ ^{See note 1}

Many drivers do all they can to protect themselves and their loved ones while on the road, from using seat belts and advanced safety features to purchasing a car insurance policy tailored to their needs.

But what happens if someone hits your vehicle and drives off? Does your insurance cover it, or do you have to pay out of pocket? Here's what you need to know about protecting yourself from uninsured and underinsured drivers.

What is a hit-and-run accident?

In a hit-and-run accident, a driver hits a person, object or other vehicle and leaves the scene without taking responsibility and providing their insurance information.

Hit-and-run accidents are much more common than you might think. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, more than 682,000 hit-and-run accidents happen in the U.S. each year — more than one per minute.

And 69% of hit-and-runs involve parked cars, which means in many cases, the perpetrator hits the parked car and drives off when the owner is not present.

Don't be a hit-and-run driver.

Make no mistake: Regardless of how minor the damage, leaving the scene of an accident isn't just a bad idea, it's illegal. The consequences are usually much more serious than they would have been otherwise. What might have been a simple moving violation can turn into a lost license, or worse.

What kind of insurance covers hit-and-runs?

Being a victim of a hit-and-run can be stressful and frustrating. Typically, in an accident in which another driver is at fault, you would file a claim against the other driver's liability insurance.

But if no one is around to take responsibility, who pays for repairs and medical care?

The first bit of good news is that it's easier to catch hit-and-run drivers than it used to be — though many are never caught. Given the availability of items like security cameras and video doorbells, you may have a chance of identifying and tracking down the responsible party.

The other good news is that your own auto insurance may be able to help cover the damage if you carry collision coverage on your policy.

Depending on your state, either collision coverage or uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage will typically help pay for damages to your vehicle. This means a hit-and-run could be covered, possibly minus a deductible.

When you're leasing or financing your vehicle, it's typically required that you have collision coverage. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is optional as well. What it covers can vary depending on your state.

Unfortunately, comprehensive and liability coverage won't help in a hit-and-run. Comprehensive coverage covers damage from nondriving incidents and also covers other things like a collision with an animal. Liability coverage only helps pay for other drivers' expenses if you cause an accident.

And what about medical bills? While collision coverage can help with damage to your vehicle, it won't pay for bodily injury.

Benefits of uninsured and underinsured coverage

According to the Insurance Research Council, one in eight drivers has no auto insurance, while many more are driving underinsured. That means they don't have enough liability insurance to cover all the expenses from an accident.

And if you're the one they hit, it could leave you with a big bill.

Given the financial risks of sharing the road with uninsured and underinsured drivers, many insurance providers offer a specific type of coverage that helps pay for expenses if the other driver can't cover them — or if the at-fault driver is never identified, as in a hit-and-run.

With uninsured and underinsured coverage, you can get help paying for vehicle and property damage, as well as for injury to yourself or your passengers.

How does uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage work?

There are typically four main types of uninsured and underinsured coverage.

1. Uninsured motorist bodily injury or UM or UMBI: This coverage can pay for injuries when an uninsured at-fault driver causes a car accident.
2. Uninsured motorist property damage or UMPD: This helps cover damage to your car caused by an uninsured driver.
3. Underinsured motorist bodily injury or UIM or UIMBI: This type of coverage helps pay when an at-fault driver does not carry enough liability insurance to cover all your medical bills, lost wages and more.
4. Underinsured motorist property damage or UIMPD: This helps cover damage to your car caused by a driver without enough liability insurance.

As with most insurance products, the details of your policy will vary based on where you live, your insurer and the level of coverage you select.

Is uninsured and underinsured coverage required?

Some states require drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage, and some require uninsured and underinsured coverage. In other states, one or both types are optional.

But whether it's required in your state, uninsured and underinsured coverage is worth considering. For many drivers, it's relatively inexpensive to add to your policy, and it can provide significant peace of mind knowing you and your finances may be protected — even in a hit-and-run.