The car that slammed into you did not even stop, and now you are left on the side of a San Antonio road trying to catch your breath and make sense of what just happened. Your heart is racing, you may not know how badly you are hurt, and the person who caused all of this is already disappearing down the street. In those first chaotic minutes, it can feel like you have no control and no options.
On top of the shock and anger, questions start piling up fast. Who will pay for the ambulance and hospital visit if you need one. How will you get your car fixed. Does it even matter that the other driver took off if no one can track them down. If you are like most people in this situation, you have never dealt with a hit and run before, and you need clear direction, not legal jargon or generic tips.
At The Packard Law Firm, we have spent decades guiding San Antonio families through serious car crashes, including complex hit and run collisions where the other driver was unknown or uninsured. Our firm carries on nearly 50 years of serving Texas families, led by a board-certified personal injury trial lawyer who has handled many motor vehicle injury claims. In this guide, we will walk you step by step through what to do after a hit and run in San Antonio so you can protect your health, your finances, and your legal rights.
Put Safety and Medical Care First After a Hit & Run
Right after a hit and run, your first priority is your safety, not catching the driver who just ran. If you can move your vehicle, get it to a safe spot out of traffic, such as the shoulder, a nearby parking lot, or a side street. Turn on your hazard lights and, if you have them, set out cones or flares to warn other drivers. Do not try to chase the fleeing driver, even if you got a glimpse of their car, because high-speed chases create new risks and can put you and others in further danger.
If anyone is hurt or you even suspect an injury, call 911 immediately. In San Antonio, a 911 call brings law enforcement and, when needed, EMS to the scene. Tell the dispatcher where you are, that this was a hit and run, and whether anyone is injured. This helps you get medical help quickly and also starts an official record that another driver left the scene, which can become important later when dealing with insurance companies.
Many serious injuries are not obvious in the first few minutes after a crash. Adrenaline can mask pain from soft tissue damage, concussions, and internal injuries. We have seen many clients who felt fine at the scene, only to wake up the next day with severe neck, back, or head pain. Getting checked out at an emergency room or urgent care in San Antonio soon after the crash not only protects your health, it also creates medical records that tie your symptoms to the collision.
Those early records often become key evidence when an insurer later tries to argue your injuries are unrelated or minor. Insurance adjusters routinely look at how soon after a crash you sought treatment and whether you followed through with recommended care. From our experience handling car accident cases, including hit and runs, we know that early medical care often closes off arguments insurers use to undervalue claims. Taking care of your health from day one gives you the best chance at both recovery and a stronger claim.
Call San Antonio Police and Report the Hit & Run
Once you are safe and have called 911 if needed, involving law enforcement is the next critical step. In San Antonio, the police can respond to the scene, secure the area, and prepare an official crash report. Tell the officers clearly that this was a hit and run and that the other driver left without stopping to check on you or exchange information. Make sure they understand as many details as you can remember, even if they feel small.
Texas law requires drivers involved in a crash that causes damage or injury to stop, remain at the scene, and exchange information. Leaving the scene is not just inconsiderate, it is illegal. That violation does not take away your rights as the victim. The San Antonio Police Department may open an investigation, which can include looking for nearby cameras, contacting potential witnesses, or checking if the fleeing vehicle matches others involved in reported incidents. While not every hit and run driver is caught, an official report helps both criminal investigators and your civil claim.
Try to give police any specifics you can, such as the direction the other vehicle was heading, its make and model, color, any numbers or letters from the license plate, and any details about the driver. You may not remember everything, and that is normal in a traumatic moment, but even part of a plate number or a unique bumper sticker can help. If there were witnesses who saw more than you did, point officers toward those people so their statements can be included in the report.
Even if the driver is never identified, having a San Antonio police report that clearly documents a hit and run can be crucial for your insurance claim. Insurers, especially in uninsured motorist claims, look closely at the report to see if you reported the crash promptly and whether your account has been consistent. At The Packard Law Firm, we regularly review San Antonio Police Department crash reports with our clients, and we know which details local adjusters focus on when deciding how to handle a hit and run claim.
Document the Scene and Gather Evidence While You Can
If you are able, start preserving evidence at the scene before vehicles are moved or debris is cleared. Use your phone to take photos from different angles, capturing all visible damage to your vehicle and any other vehicles left at the scene. Photograph skid marks, broken glass, and car parts on the roadway, as well as the wider area such as intersections, traffic signals, and nearby signs. These pictures help show how the crash happened, which can matter later if an insurer questions your version of events.
Next, look for anyone who might have seen the crash or the fleeing vehicle. This might include other drivers who stopped, pedestrians, cyclists, or nearby residents who came outside after hearing the impact. Ask for their names and the best phone numbers to reach them. If they are willing, jot down a brief note of what they saw, such as the color of the car that ran or the direction it went. Witness statements often carry weight when there is no at-fault driver at the scene to tell their side.
Some of the most useful evidence in a hit and run case comes from cameras. In San Antonio neighborhoods and commercial areas, many homes and businesses now have doorbell cameras or security systems that capture street traffic. Look around for nearby storefronts, gas stations, or homes that may have cameras pointed toward the road. Make a note of those locations and tell the responding officers. Footage from these cameras is often overwritten quickly, sometimes in a matter of days, so the sooner someone requests it, the better the chance of preserving it.
All of this information helps reconstruct what happened and supports your account when you pursue a claim. It can strengthen the hit and run narrative with your insurer and, in some cases, help police identify the vehicle or driver. Our firm’s approach to these cases always includes a close review of photos, videos, and witness statements. Over the years, we have seen how careful documentation can counter insurance company attempts to question whether the crash occurred as reported or to suggest you bear more blame than you do.
Notify Your Insurance and Understand Texas Hit & Run Coverage
As soon as you are able, you will need to notify your auto insurance company that you were involved in a hit and run. Most policies require prompt reporting, and waiting too long can give an insurer a reason to delay or dispute your claim. When you first call, stick to the basic facts of what happened, where it occurred in San Antonio, and what injuries you are aware of at that time. You can let them know this was a hit and run and that a police report is being filed or has been filed.
Texas policies often include several types of coverage that may help after a hit and run, even when the at-fault driver is unknown. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, usually called UM or UIM, is one of the most important in this situation. In many Texas hit and run cases, the law allows UM coverage to apply when the fleeing driver cannot be identified, so this coverage can step in and pay for bodily injuries, and in some policies, property damage. Insurers may require that the crash be reported to law enforcement within a certain time frame and may still scrutinize your claim closely.
Common Mistakes After a Hit & Run in San Antonio
We often meet people who did not realize how their first decisions after a hit and run could shape their entire case. One of the most serious mistakes is chasing after the fleeing driver. While it is understandable to want their license plate number or to confront them, pursuing them at high speed can cause another collision or lead to accusations that you left the original scene. Staying put, calling 911, and letting San Antonio police handle the investigation protects both your safety and your legal position.
Another common mistake is failing to call the police at all because the victim assumes nothing can be done. When there is no police report, insurers have a much easier time questioning the claim, especially in UM cases. Waiting days to seek medical attention can also hurt your case. Adjusters sometimes argue that injuries reported weeks later must have come from something else. Even if you feel only sore or shaken up, getting checked by a doctor in San Antonio soon after the crash and following through on treatment creates the medical trail you need.
People also get into trouble when they rush to give detailed recorded statements to insurers or accept quick, low settlements in exchange for signing away future rights. You may receive a call from your own insurer or, if the driver is later found, from the at-fault driver’s carrier. They may seem friendly and concerned, but their job is to limit their company’s payout. Saying you are “fine” on that first call or agreeing to a small payment before you know the full extent of your injuries can seriously limit what you can recover later.
When to Contact a San Antonio Hit & Run Injury Lawyer
You do not have to wait for the police to find the other driver or for your injuries to fully develop before you talk with a lawyer. Involving an attorney early in a hit and run case often makes a real difference. A lawyer can help coordinate with San Antonio police, move quickly to request surveillance footage, and organize photos and witness statements before they are lost. We can also step in to handle communications with insurers, so you are not pressured into giving statements or signing documents before you are ready.
In a typical hit and run case, a firm like ours reviews every available insurance policy, both yours and any other potential sources, to identify coverage. We gather and organize medical records and bills, obtain the official crash report, and look for any additional evidence that supports your version of events. If an insurer disputes liability or the value of your injuries, we prepare the case as if it may go to trial, which often strengthens our position in negotiations. This is where our board-certified personal injury trial lawyer’s experience in Texas courts comes into play.
Texas generally gives injured people two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit, though certain facts can affect that deadline. That may sound like a long time, but evidence like surveillance video, physical debris, and memories from witnesses begin to fade or disappear almost immediately. The sooner we can get involved after a hit and run in San Antonio, the more options we typically have for building a strong claim. Waiting until the last minute can close doors that might otherwise have been open.
For nearly 50 years, The Packard Law Firm has represented Texas families in injury claims, including motor vehicle collisions that other firms might view as too complex or challenging. We do not shy away from big insurance companies or difficult hit and run cases. Our trial-tested advocacy and deep local experience mean we understand how San Antonio insurers and courts handle these claims and how best to protect your rights at each step.
Contact us online or by calling (210) 972-8918 today!