How the Hit-and-Run Investigation Process Works After a Car Accident in Florida

Every car accident causes some stress and anxiety, but hit-and-run crashes are on a different level. Not only are you dealing with injuries and property damage, but you may also feel violated by the other driver’s refusal to do the right thing. Luckily, in 2026, there are lots of ways for investigators to track down hit-and-run drivers. Learning more about the investigative process can help you know what to expect.

If you were hit by a driver who fled the scene of the collision, don’t assume that you have to cover your expenses alone. Let’s talk about your next steps and options. Contact MattLaw Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers today.

What is considered a hit-and-run in Florida?

Under Florida law, a hit-and-run occurs when a driver is involved in an accident that causes property damage or bodily harm and does not stop to provide their personal information and reasonable aid. Florida law addresses these requirements both for accidents causing property damage and accidents causing bodily harm or fatalities. The criminal charges for these crimes vary depending on severity; for example, someone who flees the scene of a crash involving injury may be charged as a third-degree felony, serious bodily injury as a second-degree felony, and a fatal crash as a first-degree felony, with penalties increasing based on the severity of harm.

Reporting the accident

This process starts the moment that you realize you’ve been hit by a driver who’s now driving away from the scene. Call 911 immediately if anyone is injured, even if you think the injury may be minor. If the crash only caused property damage, you can either call 911 or call the non-emergency line.

Upon arriving at the scene, the police may secure the scene, interview drivers and witnesses, and take photos of debris and skid marks. This is also when they take note of nearby surveillance cameras or doorbell cameras that may have inadvertently recorded the collision.

They’ll create a police report that you can use when reporting the crash to your insurance company. You also must notify your own insurance company to maintain your coverage. For example, after a hit and run crash, you PIP insurance will be available to pay your medical bills. And if you have Uninsured Motorist insurance, these benefits are also available to compensate you for your serious injuries.

The hit-and-run investigation process

After the police gather initial evidence and generate a police report, they move forward with gathering as much evidence as possible. Time is of the essence in these scenarios, as many types of evidence are time-sensitive and disappear quickly if not immediately preserved. For example, skid marks and debris from a car won’t be there forever; if this evidence isn’t documented right away, it will be gone within hours as the cleanup crew makes the road safe to drive on again. Similarly, surveillance cameras only keep footage for a set period of time. Failing to back it up before then may mean it is lost forever.

Investigators may also use this time to interview witnesses and take their statements on the record. Depending on where the accident occurred, the police may check nearby license plate reader systems that could have identified the fleeing driver.

How do police identify the driver?

Police do their best to identify hit-and-run drivers. There are various strategies they may use, including:

• Matching debris from the scene to specific makes and models of vehicles
• Cross-referencing any license plate numbers or letters you identified with the DMV
• Looking into vehicles registered in the area that match the description you gave
• Checking body shops for recent repair drop-offs
• Checking into license plate reader data
• Putting out public notices asking people to report information on vehicles matching the description of the fleeing car

Some investigations move quickly if there’s video footage, a partial license plate match, or lots of identifiable debris. Others may take weeks or months.

In some cases, the at-fault driver is never identified. This is less common now than in the past, thanks to increased surveillance across the country, but it still happens.

What happens to drivers if they’re caught?

If police identify a driver in a hit-and-run, they may proceed to arrest them and file criminal charges. As noted earlier, the severity of the charges they face depends on how much harm was caused in the accident.

From there, the criminal case is handled by the state prosecutor’s office. Whether or not they actually follow up on charges depends on the available evidence and the likelihood of securing a conviction.

What this means for your car accident claim

Note that the criminal justice process is different from the civil claim you may file for compensation. In Florida, courts may order drivers to pay restitution to victims as part of a criminal sentence. But the fact is that you don’t want to wait for the criminal justice system to make you whole, especially when lost wages or medical bills are causing you financial stress.

Hit-and-run charges do not guarantee a successful civil claim, but the evidence you can get from one of these cases can significantly improve your civil claim. Assuming the at-fault driver is found, the evidence may make it more difficult for the insurance company to dispute involvement—there’s already evidence proving that they broke the law.

The insurance company will still need to do its own due diligence, though. Just because someone was involved in a hit-and-run doesn’t mean they caused it. This is why we recommend working with a car accident attorney from the beginning. In addition to analyzing and preserving evidence, they can handle negotiations with the insurance company. Should negotiations fail, they’ll move forward with taking your case to court.

Fight for justice after a hit-and-run with MattLaw Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers

Our car accident team is here to help you fight for compensation, justice, and closure after a hit-and-run. Find out how we can help you now by reaching out online.