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A hit-and-run accident turns an already frightening situation into something far worse. You’re hurt, your car is damaged, and the driver who caused it all just drove away. If this happened to you in McKinney or anywhere in the surrounding Collin County area, you need to know your rights under Texas law — and you need to act fast. Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys, located at 110 N. Woodrow Ln, Ste 120, Denton, TX 76205, represents hit-and-run victims throughout the North Texas region. Call us at (940) 800-2500 to speak with a member of our team today. Results in any case depend on the specific facts and applicable law.
Table of Contents
- What Texas Law Requires Drivers to Do After a Crash in McKinney
- Criminal Penalties for Hit-and-Run Drivers Under Texas Transportation Code § 550.021
- How to Recover Compensation When the Hit-and-Run Driver Is Unknown or Uninsured
- What to Do Immediately After a Hit-and-Run Accident in the McKinney Area
- Texas Statute of Limitations for Hit-and-Run Personal Injury Claims
- Why Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys Is the Right Choice for McKinney Hit-and-Run Victims
- FAQs About McKinney Hit-and-Run Accidents
What Texas Law Requires Drivers to Do After a Crash in McKinney
Texas law is clear: every driver involved in a collision must stop, provide information, and render aid. Texas Transportation Code Chapter 550 governs the duties of drivers involved in motor vehicle collisions. Under this chapter, any driver involved in an accident must stop immediately, provide identifying information, and render reasonable assistance to injured persons.
Section 550.021 of the Texas Transportation Code establishes four specific obligations for any driver involved in a collision that results in, or is reasonably likely to result in, injury or death. Those duties include stopping at or near the scene, checking whether anyone needs help, and staying until all required information has been exchanged.
The legal term used in Texas is either “Failure to Stop and Render Aid” when someone is injured or killed, or “Failure to Stop and Give Information” when only property damage is involved. These are not minor traffic violations. They are criminal offenses with serious consequences.
Texas law applies these obligations to every driver involved in an accident, regardless of who was actually at fault for causing the crash in the first place. So even if the other driver ran a red light on a busy McKinney intersection near US-75 and caused the wreck, they were still legally required to stop.
Under Texas Transportation Code § 550.023, the fleeing driver was required to give you their name, address, vehicle registration number, and insurance information. If anyone appears to be injured, they must take reasonable steps to get them help. This means calling 911 or arranging transportation to a hospital. Failing to do any of this is a criminal act, and it also forms the foundation of your civil claim for damages.
Criminal Penalties for Hit-and-Run Drivers Under Texas Transportation Code § 550.021
The criminal consequences for leaving the scene of a crash in Texas are severe, and they scale based on how serious the collision was. Texas classifies hit-and-run as a criminal offense under Transportation Code 550.021, with penalties that scale from a Class C misdemeanor for minor property damage to a second-degree felony carrying 2 to 20 years in prison when a collision results in death.
If the crash causes serious bodily injury as defined by Texas criminal law, the offense is a third-degree felony, punishable by 2 to 10 years imprisonment. A fine may also be imposed up to $10,000.
If the accident resulted only in property damage, leaving the scene is typically charged as a Class C or Class B misdemeanor. A Class C misdemeanor carries fines up to $500, while a Class B misdemeanor can result in fines up to $2,000 and up to 180 days in county jail.
Why does this matter to you as a victim? Because the severity of the criminal charge directly reflects the seriousness of what was done to you. Texas prosecutors treat these cases aggressively. When a driver flees after a crash on a road like US-380 or the Sam Rayburn Tollway near McKinney, law enforcement actively pursues them. Surveillance cameras, dashcam footage, and witness accounts from nearby businesses and neighborhoods often lead to an arrest.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 2,758 fatalities in traffic crashes involving hit-and-run drivers in 2024, a decrease of 5.3 percent from the prior year. Despite that decline, the numbers remain deeply troubling. Every one of those fatalities left a family without answers. Your case deserves the same level of attention, whether the driver was identified or not.
How to Recover Compensation When the Hit-and-Run Driver Is Unknown or Uninsured
One of the biggest fears hit-and-run victims have is this: what if the driver is never found? Texas law gives you options even in that situation, and a skilled attorney can help you pursue every one of them.
Your own auto insurance policy may include uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. This type of coverage is specifically designed for situations where the at-fault driver either flees or has no insurance. Under Texas law, insurers are required to offer UM coverage, though policyholders may reject it in writing. If you accepted this coverage, you can file a claim directly with your own insurer for your medical bills, lost wages, and other losses.
Texas Transportation Code § 601.151 governs financial responsibility requirements for collisions resulting in bodily injury, death, or property damage of at least $1,000. When a driver flees, they are almost certainly in violation of these requirements. If they are later identified, Texas Transportation Code § 601.293 allows a magistrate to conduct an inquiry into negligence and liability, and to order the at-fault driver to provide evidence of financial responsibility. If they cannot, § 601.294 authorizes the impoundment of their vehicle.
If the driver is found, you can pursue a personal injury claim directly against them. If they are not, your UM claim becomes your primary path to recovery. Either way, personal injury lawyers who handle hit-and-run cases in North Texas know how to build these claims from the ground up, using crash reports, physical evidence, and insurance policy language to maximize your recovery.
Under Texas Transportation Code § 550.065, you have the right to obtain the official crash report (CR-3 form) from TxDOT. This report is a critical piece of evidence. It documents the scene, identifies any witnesses, and records the investigating officer’s findings. Your attorney can use this report as a starting point for building your case.
What to Do Immediately After a Hit-and-Run Accident in the McKinney Area
The steps you take in the minutes and hours after a hit-and-run directly affect your ability to recover compensation. Acting quickly and carefully protects both your health and your legal claim.
First, call 911. Do not move your vehicle unless it creates a safety hazard. A police report from the McKinney Police Department or the Collin County Sheriff’s Office creates the official record of what happened. Without a police report, your insurance claim becomes much harder to prove.
While you wait for help to arrive, look around. Note the direction the fleeing vehicle traveled. Try to remember the make, model, color, and any part of the license plate number. Ask any bystanders if they saw what happened. Nearby businesses along highways like SH-121 or in the McKinney Town Center area often have exterior security cameras that may have captured the incident.
Take photographs of everything. Your injuries, your vehicle, the road surface, skid marks, debris, and any property damage nearby. These images become evidence. If you were injured near a pedestrian crosswalk or in a parking lot near a local landmark like Towne Lake Recreation Area or the McKinney Performing Arts Center, note the exact location so investigators can identify nearby cameras.
Seek medical attention the same day, even if you feel fine. Adrenaline masks pain. Injuries like traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, and internal bleeding may not be immediately obvious. A medical record created close in time to the crash is essential evidence connecting your injuries to the collision.
Then call Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys at (940) 800-2500. Time matters. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget details. Our team can begin working on your case right away.
Texas Statute of Limitations for Hit-and-Run Personal Injury Claims
Texas law sets a firm deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a claim. Miss that deadline, and you lose your right to sue — regardless of how strong your case is.
Two years may sound like plenty of time, but hit-and-run cases often require more preparation than a standard car accident claim. Identifying the fleeing driver, gathering surveillance footage, obtaining crash reports, and working through insurance disputes all take time. Starting early gives your attorney the best chance to build the strongest possible case on your behalf.
There is one important exception worth knowing. If the hit-and-run driver’s identity is unknown, Texas law allows you to file a petition naming “John or Jane Doe” as the defendant. Under CPRC § 16.0045, the limitations period is tolled (paused) when such a petition is filed, provided you proceed with due diligence to identify the defendant and amend the petition within 30 days of identifying them. This tool is particularly useful in hit-and-run cases where investigations take time.
Collin County cases are handled through the Collin County District Courts in McKinney, located at the Collin County Courthouse on Louisiana Street. Your attorney will know how to file in the right court and meet all procedural requirements. Do not wait to get legal advice. The sooner you contact Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys, the more options you have available to you.
Why Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys Is the Right Choice for McKinney Hit-and-Run Victims
Hit-and-run accidents require a different approach than a typical two-car collision. There is no at-fault driver handing over their insurance card. There may be no witnesses. The evidence window closes fast. You need an attorney who understands how to pursue every available avenue of recovery, from UM insurance claims to direct litigation when the driver is identified.
Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys serves clients throughout the North Texas region, including McKinney, Frisco, Allen, Prosper, and surrounding communities in Collin County. Our office is located at 110 N. Woodrow Ln, Ste 120, Denton, TX 76205, and we are familiar with the courts, roads, and local conditions that shape these cases. From the high-traffic corridors along US-75 to the growing residential areas near Stonebridge Ranch, we know this region.
We handle hit-and-run cases alongside a broad range of serious injury claims, including cases involving uninsured and underinsured motorists, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, and pedestrian and bicycle accidents. That depth of experience matters when your case involves multiple legal issues at once, as hit-and-run cases often do.
We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you. There are no upfront costs and no financial risk to you for getting legal help. Past results in other cases cannot guarantee the same outcome in your matter, as every case depends on its own unique facts and the applicable law.
If you or someone you love was hit by a driver who fled the scene in McKinney or anywhere in the surrounding area, call us today at (940) 800-2500. You deserve answers, and we are ready to help you find them.
FAQs About McKinney Hit-and-Run Accidents
What should I do if the hit-and-run driver is never identified?
If the driver is never found, you may still have a path to compensation through your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. This coverage is designed for exactly this situation. You file a claim with your own insurance company, and your policy pays for your medical bills, lost wages, and other covered losses up to your policy limits. An attorney can also help you file a “John or Jane Doe” petition in court to preserve your legal rights while the investigation continues.
How long do I have to file a hit-and-run claim in Texas?
Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003 gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. For UM insurance claims, your policy may have its own notice and filing requirements that are even shorter. You should contact an attorney as soon as possible after the crash to make sure you do not miss any deadlines.
Can I still recover damages if I was partially at fault for the accident?
Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001. You can recover damages as long as you are not more than 50 percent at fault. However, your total compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 20 percent at fault and your damages total $100,000, you would recover $80,000. An attorney can help evaluate how fault might be assigned in your specific case.
What evidence is most important in a hit-and-run case?
The most valuable evidence includes the official CR-3 crash report filed by the investigating officer, photographs of the scene and your injuries, surveillance footage from nearby businesses or traffic cameras, witness statements, and any dashcam footage from your vehicle or other drivers nearby. Physical evidence from the scene, like paint transfer or debris, can also help identify the fleeing vehicle. Acting quickly to preserve this evidence is critical, because footage is often overwritten within days.
Does filing a UM claim raise my insurance rates in Texas?
Texas law does not automatically allow an insurer to raise your rates simply because you filed a UM claim after a hit-and-run where you were not at fault. However, insurance policies and company practices vary. You should review your policy carefully and speak with an attorney before filing to understand how your specific insurer handles these claims. An attorney can also help you communicate with your insurer to protect your interests throughout the process.
Content prepared by Chandler Ross, Injury Attorneys, 110 N. Woodrow Ln, Ste 120, Denton, TX 76205. Principal office: Denton, Texas. Attorney responsible for this content: Chandler Ross. Chandler Ross is licensed to practice law in Texas. This page is an advertisement. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in any future matter. Each case is different and must be evaluated on its own facts and applicable law.
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