Which coverage would apply if an insured is involved in an accident with a hit and run driver?

Uninsured motorist coverage is specifically designed to protect insured individuals in situations where they are involved in an accident with a driver who does not have insurance or, as in this case, a hit-and-run driver. When an insured is struck by a hit-and-run vehicle, since the identity of the driver is unknown and no insurance can be claimed from that party, uninsured motorist coverage responds to offer financial protection for injury and damages.

This type of coverage typically includes both bodily injury and property damage, ensuring that the insured is not left to bear the financial burden alone when faced with the consequences of an accident involving an uninsured driver or an unidentified driver who flees the scene. The provision under this coverage also incentivizes policyholders to report such incidents to enable claims processing and protection against future risks.

In contrast, collision coverage primarily pertains to damage to the policyholder’s own vehicle from a collision with another vehicle or object, whereas comprehensive coverage covers damages due to non-collision events such as theft or natural disasters. Underinsured motorist coverage, on the other hand, comes into play when the at-fault driver's insurance is insufficient to cover the damages, which is not the scenario presented with a hit-and-run incident where the other driver is unidentifiable.