Short summary: New York police generally close the vast majority of hit-and-run cases without ever charging anyone, and often without telling the victim it happened. Your own injury claim runs on a completely separate clock, and it does not stop just because the criminal case does.
A 26-year-old man was crossing a Midtown street in a marked crosswalk on June 23 when a turning driver hit him. He broke his hip and could not walk for six weeks.
Three months later, NYPD quietly closed his case. He only found out after weeks of silence from investigators, according to a Streetsblog report published this week.
His story is not rare. It is closer to the rule.
The Numbers Behind the Silence
In 2023, New York City logged 39,685 reported hit-and-run crashes that caused property damage or injury.
Charges followed in just 375 of them.
That means in roughly 39,310 cases, nobody was ever arrested or charged. If you are waiting on NYPD to find the driver who hit you before you do anything else, the math says that wait could last a long time, maybe forever.
What To Do While the Criminal Case Goes Nowhere
Here is the part that matters most: your injury claim and the police investigation are two separate tracks.
If the Driver Is Never Identified
- New York has a fund called MVAIC, the Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation, built for exactly this situation.
- MVAIC can cover medical bills and lost wages when the at-fault driver is unknown or uninsured, but it runs on its own notice deadlines.
- Generally, you need to report the crash and file notice quickly. Waiting for an arrest first can cost you that window.
If You're Hurt and Can't Work
- New York's no-fault system can pay medical bills and a portion of lost wages regardless of fault, but it generally runs on a tight deadline that starts at the crash, not when the case closes.
- Do not wait for a call from a detective to file. Start the no-fault and MVAIC paperwork on your own timeline.
- Be careful what you say if an adjuster calls early. Here is what to know before that conversation.
Questions New Yorkers ask us
What happens if NYPD closes my hit-and-run case without an arrest?
Generally, your ability to get compensated does not depend on an arrest. You can still pursue a claim through MVAIC or your own insurance even if the criminal case goes cold.
Is it too late to file a claim if my crash happened months ago?
It depends on your situation, and deadlines vary, which is exactly why it is worth getting advice now instead of assuming you have already missed your window.
Not sure where you stand after a crash? Get your free case review or call (347) 526-1246. A real person answers, 24/7.
Reporting: Streetsblog New York City.
