Written by Scott Mansfield, who handles hit and run claims in New Orleans at Mansfield Melancon Injury Lawyers — mmcdlaw.com/about-us/our-team/scott-mansfield/
You’re stopped at a light near Canal Street, or maybe pulling out of a parking spot in the Marigny. The next thing you know, another car has clipped you and kept going. No exchange of information, no note left on your windshield, just taillights disappearing around the corner. A hit and run in New Orleans happens more often than in a lot of cities this size. If it just happened to you, what you do in the next few minutes matters.
Hit and Run New Orleans: Your First Steps at the Scene
Get a plate number if you possibly can, even a partial one. Note the vehicle’s color, make, and any distinguishing features. If witnesses are nearby, ask for their names and numbers before they walk off. None of that requires chasing the other car, which you shouldn’t do. It just means capturing what you saw while it’s still fresh.
Reporting It to NOPD
After a hit and run New Orleans crash, file a police report as soon as possible, ideally at the scene. A hit and run report matters for two reasons. It creates an official record of what happened. It’s also often required before your own insurance company will process an uninsured motorist claim. Without a report, insurers have more room to question whether the crash happened the way you describe it.
Why Uninsured Motorist Coverage Matters Here
If the driver who hit you is never identified, your own uninsured motorist coverage often becomes the primary way to recover compensation, assuming you carry it. Under La. R.S. 22:1295, Louisiana insurers must include this coverage unless you reject it in writing. Many people don’t realize they have it until they need it after a hit and run New Orleans crash.
Hit and Run New Orleans: What Happens If the Driver Is Never Found
It doesn’t necessarily mean the end of your claim. Uninsured motorist coverage, nearby surveillance footage, and witness statements can all still support a claim even without the other driver. Building that claim just requires more documentation, faster, since there’s no other driver’s insurance company to negotiate with directly. Our New Orleans car accident team handles this kind of claim regularly, including cases across Jefferson Parish.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you do after a hit and run in New Orleans?
Get any details you can about the other vehicle, find witnesses if possible, and file a police report with NOPD as soon as you’re able. That report is often required before your own insurer will process an uninsured motorist claim.
Does uninsured motorist coverage cover hit and run crashes?
Usually, yes, if you carry that coverage. Louisiana requires drivers to specifically opt out of uninsured motorist protection in writing, so many people have it without realizing it.
Can police actually find a hit and run driver?
Sometimes, especially with a partial plate number, nearby surveillance footage, or witness descriptions. It’s not guaranteed, but a prompt police report significantly improves the odds.
What if the other driver is never found?
Your claim isn’t necessarily over. Uninsured motorist coverage, surveillance footage, and witness statements can still support a claim even without ever identifying the driver who hit you.
Even if that driver is never found, a hit and run New Orleans crash may still leave you with real options. Let’s talk about what coverage you actually have.