The worst mistake people make is waiting to report a hit-and-run to police and their own insurer. In Rhode Island, that delay can wreck the UM claim before the medical bills even arrive.

The outcome usually turns on three factors:

1. Whether your own policy has usable UM/UIM coverage.

If the driver fled or has no insurance, you usually look to your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. If the driver had only Rhode Island's minimum liability limits - $25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash, and $25,000 for property damage - your underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage may matter if your injuries are worth more.

Check the declarations page now for:

• UM/UIM bodily injury limits
• Any household vehicle policies that may also apply
• Whether you have medical payments coverage

If you were hydroplaned into on I-95 during a storm, or forced off near an exit by a vehicle that disappeared, a no-contact or hit-and-run claim can still be litigated, but proof becomes critical.

2. How fast you create the official record.

Call Providence Police if the crash was in the city, or Rhode Island State Police if it was on the interstate. Get the report number. Seek medical care the same day.

Tell your insurer this was a hit-and-run uninsured motorist claim. Do not just say "accident." Preserve:

• dashcam or nearby business video
• 911 call logs
• photos of debris, paint transfer, skid marks, floodwater, lane closures
• names of witnesses

On roads like I-95, Route 138, or bridge approaches in fog or heavy rain, road conditions disappear fast. Evidence does too.

3. Whether you can prove fault and loss with numbers.

Your insurer will still demand proof that an unknown or underinsured driver caused the crash. They will also value the claim based on hard records: ER notes, imaging, work restrictions, and lost wages.

For a single parent, wage loss often drives value. Save pay stubs, missed-shift records, and any doctor note taking you out of work.

Rhode Island's general lawsuit deadline for personal injury is typically 3 years, but UM/UIM notice requirements can be much shorter under the policy, so report it immediately.