What to Do About a Pedestrian Hit-and-Run Accident in Illinois

 Posted on April 27, 2026 in Pedestrian Accidents

Being hit by a car is a stressful event, even if the offending driver sticks around to make sure you’re okay and give you their insurance information. If they drive off instead, you’re left, possibly with injuries, to wonder how you’re going to get compensation for the accident.

The good news is that you still have legal options after a hit-and-run, even if the driver hasn't been found. A McHenry County personal injury lawyer can help you understand how to pursue the compensation you deserve.

What Should You Do Immediately After a Hit-and-Run in Illinois?

If you're physically able to act, take the following steps to help strengthen your case:

• Call 911 right away. A police report creates an official record of what happened. You'll need this for any insurance claim or lawsuit.

• Get medical attention, even if you feel okay. Adrenaline can mask pain and injuries. Some internal injuries don't present symptoms immediately.

• Write down or record everything you remember about the vehicle: color, make, model, partial plate number, direction of travel, and anything else you noticed. Also, write down anything you can remember about the driver.

• Collect contact information from any nearby witnesses.

• Look around for surveillance cameras on nearby buildings, traffic lights, or businesses. Note those locations so investigators can pull footage.

Don't wait to see a doctor. Gaps in medical treatment can be used by insurance companies to argue that your injuries weren't serious or weren't caused by the accident. Getting any injuries on record immediately helps combat this.

Can You Still Recover Compensation for a Pedestrian Hit-and-Run If the Driver Is Never Found?

This is one of the most common concerns people have after a hit-and-run, and the answer, in many cases, is yes. Your own insurance coverage may be the first place to look if you have uninsured motorist coverage.

Uninsured motorist coverage, sometimes called UM coverage, is designed for exactly this kind of situation. Under Illinois law, insurance companies are required to offer uninsured motorist coverage, and a hit-and-run driver legally qualifies as an uninsured motorist. If you have this coverage on your auto policy, you may be able to file a claim even though you weren't in a vehicle at the time of the accident. Illinois gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit under 735 ILCS 5/13-202.

What If the Driver in the Hit-and-Run Is Identified Later?

Hit-and-run investigations don't always close immediately after the scene is cleared. Police sometimes identify drivers days or even weeks later through surveillance footage, witness tips, or vehicle damage reports filed at body shops. In Illinois, leaving the scene of an accident involving injury is actually a felony under 625 ILCS 5/11-401, so law enforcement has good reason to follow up with a driver who left a pedestrian accident.

If the driver is eventually identified, you may have additional options for pursuing a claim directly against them or their insurer. After a driver has been found, a civil claim becomes much more straightforward. You can pursue compensation for:

• Medical expenses since the accident and future medical expenses

• Lost wages if your injuries kept you out of work

• Pain and suffering

• Long-term disability or rehabilitation costs

Even if the driver is found to have limited assets or no insurance, your attorney can help you evaluate all possible avenues for recovery in 2026.

Call a Lake Zurich, IL Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today

Don't assume you're out of options just because the driver left after hitting you. A good attorney may be all you need to get the compensation you deserve. Our McHenry County personal injury attorneys are a father and daughter team local to Illinois. We have over 25 years of combined personal injury law experience and understand how to navigate payouts from insurance companies. Call Premier Illinois Injury Lawyers at 847-796-8448 today for a free consultation about the details of your case.