Hit and Run Accident Lawyers in Memphis, TN

The moments after a hit and run accident are disorienting but what you do next matters. Here is what we recommend:

• Call 911 immediately: Always report a hit and run to law enforcement. Memphis Police Department officers will document the scene, take your statement, and open an investigation. You can follow up on your report through MPD at 170 North Main Street or through the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s online crash report portal.
• Stay at the scene: Do not chase the fleeing driver. Stay where you are, stay safe, and wait for the police to arrive.
• Document everything you can: Note the make, model, color, and any portion of the license plate of the fleeing vehicle. Take photos of your vehicle, the road, any debris left behind, and your injuries.
• Look for witnesses: Anyone who saw the crash or the fleeing driver could be critical to identifying the at-fault vehicle. Get names and phone numbers before people leave the scene.
• Look for surveillance cameras: Memphis traffic cameras, business security systems, and doorbell cameras along corridors like Poplar Avenue, Union Avenue, Lamar Avenue, and Summer Avenue may have captured the fleeing vehicle on footage.
• Seek medical attention right away: Get evaluated at Regional One Health, Baptist Memorial Hospital, Methodist Le Bonheur, or St. Francis Hospital – even if you feel fine. Injuries from hit and run accidents can have delayed onset, and a medical record is essential for your claim.
• Contact a hit and run accident lawyer: The sooner Alders & Lewellyn gets involved, the better the chances of identifying the driver and preserving critical evidence.

What the Insurance Claim Process Looks Like for a Hit and Run

Filing an insurance claim after a hit and run accident in Memphis is more complex than a standard car accident claim but it is far from impossible. Whether your accident happened on a busy stretch of I-240, a commercial corridor like Winchester Road, or a quieter neighborhood street in Hickory Hill or Whitehaven, the process generally looks the same.

When the at-fault driver is identified, their liability insurance becomes the primary source of recovery – just like any other car accident case. However, when the driver flees the scene and is never found, your own insurance policy becomes your most important tool.

Your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage steps in when the at-fault driver cannot be identified or does not have insurance. Filing a UM claim through your own policy is one of the most common paths to hit and run compensation and importantly, doing so typically does not raise your insurance rates when the accident was not your fault.

The claims process involves:

• Reporting the accident to your own insurance company promptly
• Providing documentation including the police report, photos, medical records, and witness statements
• Working through your insurer’s investigation process, which may involve recorded statements and an independent medical examination
• Negotiating the value of your claim, which is where having a hit and run accident lawyer makes the biggest difference

Insurance companies, even your own, are not obligated to make things easy. Alders & Lewellyn handles every step of this process on your behalf so you can focus on recovering.

Getting Compensation from a Missing Defendant

One of the most common questions we hear from hit and run victims is: “Can I still get compensation if the driver is never found?” The answer is yes and here is how.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage: Explained

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is specifically designed for situations like hit and run accidents, where the at-fault driver either cannot be identified or does not have insurance. If you have UM coverage on your own auto policy, it can cover:

• Medical bills and future medical expenses
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage to your vehicle

If your UM limits are not enough to cover your total damages, underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage may provide additional recovery on top of what UM pays.

Beyond UM/UIM coverage, there are other potential sources of compensation in hit and run cases:

• Surveillance footage – Memphis traffic cameras, business security systems, and residential doorbell cameras along high-traffic corridors have helped identify hit and run drivers in past cases
• Physical evidence – Paint transfer, vehicle debris, and damage patterns can help investigators narrow down the make and model of the fleeing vehicle
• Witness identification – Bystanders, other drivers, and nearby business employees may have seen more than they initially realized
• MedPay coverage – If your policy includes medical payments coverage, it may help cover immediate medical expenses regardless of fault

Alders & Lewellyn recovered $130,000 for a family in a fatal hit and run case, a case multiple other law firms had refused to take because the deceased had no insurance and the driver was never identified. Attorney Alders found coverage others had missed. That is the kind of tenacity we bring to every hit and run case.

Pedestrians and cyclists are among the most vulnerable victims of hit and run accidents in Memphis. Whether you were crossing at an intersection in Midtown, riding through East Memphis, or walking near Downtown Memphis or the Beale Street area, a hit and run can leave you with serious injuries and no clear path to compensation.

Hit and run accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists come with unique challenges:

• No license plate to capture – On foot or on a bicycle, you may not have had a clear view of the fleeing vehicle’s plate
• More severe injuries – Without the protection of a vehicle, pedestrians and cyclists typically suffer more serious injuries, which makes pursuing full compensation even more critical
• Different insurance dynamics – If you do not own a vehicle, your UM coverage options may differ. However, you may still be able to access UM coverage through a household family member’s policy
• Higher visibility of surveillance – Pedestrian-heavy areas of Memphis like South Main, Cooper-Young, Overton Square, and the Medical District are often well-covered by business security cameras that can help identify a fleeing driver

If you were hit as a pedestrian or cyclist in a Memphis hit and run, do not assume you have no options. Alders & Lewellyn has recovered significant compensation for bicycle accident victims including a $275,000 recovery that involved stacking a minimum-limits policy with a full UIM policy and additional property damage recovery.

Learn more about bicycle accident claims →