In this guide
Who pays depends on the cause
| What caused the crash | Who may pay |
|---|---|
| You lost control (speed, weather, distraction) | Your own coverage: collision for the car; PIP in Florida, New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan, medical payments coverage or health insurance for injuries. Passengers: your liability coverage. |
| Another driver forced you off the road and left | Your uninsured motorist coverage — subject to your state’s contact or witness rules (below). Collision for the car. |
| Another driver forced you off the road and was identified | That driver’s liability insurance, even though the cars never touched. |
| Pothole, missing sign or guardrail, poor road design | The government or contractor responsible for the road — notice deadlines apply (below). |
| Tire blowout, brake or steering failure | Possibly the manufacturer or the shop that last worked on the car. Keep the car and parts. |
| Hitting an animal or debris | Your own policy — often comprehensive rather than collision coverage; check your policy. |
Run off the road: uninsured motorist rules by state
If a driver you can’t identify caused the crash without touching your car, your uninsured motorist (UM) coverage may or may not apply. Here’s what each state’s law says about that kind of “miss-and-run”:
| State | Unidentified driver, no contact | Is UM on the policy? |
|---|---|---|
| California | California requires physical contact for an unidentified driver, so a crash where the other car never touched you or your vehicle may not qualify. (Ins. Code § 11580.2) | Yes, unless you and the insurer agreed in writing to delete it |
| Texas | Texas requires physical contact for an unidentified driver, so a crash where the other car never touched you or your vehicle may not qualify. (Ins. Code §§ 1952.101, 1952.104) | Yes, unless a named insured rejected it in writing |
| Florida | Florida doesn’t set a contact rule in this statute; your policy’s terms decide. (Stat. § 627.727) | Yes, unless a named insured rejected it in writing |
| New York | New York requires physical contact for an unidentified driver, so a crash where the other car never touched you or your vehicle may not qualify. (Ins. Law § 3420(f)) | Required on policies for vehicles principally garaged or used in New York |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania doesn’t mention physical contact in its definition, but the reporting conditions still apply. (75 Pa.C.S. §§ 1702, 1731) | Optional — insurers must offer it, and you can decline it |
| Illinois | Illinois doesn’t set a contact rule in this statute; your policy’s terms decide. (215 ILCS 5/143a) | Required |
| Ohio | Ohio requires independent corroborative evidence that the unidentified driver caused the injury — your own testimony alone isn’t enough. (R.C. 3937.18) | Optional — a policy may, but doesn’t have to, include it |
| Georgia | Georgia accepts a no-contact crash only if an eyewitness other than you backs up your account. (O.C.G.A. § 33-7-11) | Yes, unless a named insured rejected it in writing |
| Michigan | Michigan pays injury benefits through PIP without regard to fault, so contact doesn’t decide PIP. (MCL §§ 500.3105, 500.3172) | No-fault state: your own personal protection insurance (PIP) pays injury benefits without regard to fault |
North Carolina isn’t listed: its uninsured motorist law changed in 2023–2025, and we haven’t verified the current text. Whatever the state, report the crash to the police right away and tell your insurer — some states set short deadlines for these claims, listed in our hit-and-run guide.
Road defects: claims against the government
A crash caused by a dangerous road condition can be the government’s responsibility, but these claims come with their own rules. The first deadline in each state, from the statutes:
| State | First deadline for a claim against the government |
|---|---|
| California | Written claim to the public entity within 6 months (Gov. Code § 911.2) |
| Texas | Notice to the government unit within 6 months (Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101) |
| Florida | Written claim to the agency within 3 years (Stat. § 768.28(5), (6)) |
| New York | Notice of claim within 90 days (Gen. Mun. Law § 50-e) |
| Pennsylvania | Written notice to the government unit within 6 months (42 Pa.C.S. § 5522(a)) |
| Illinois | Lawsuit against a local entity within 1 year (745 ILCS 10/8-101(a)) |
| Ohio | Lawsuit against a political subdivision within 2 years (R.C. 2744.04(A)) |
| Georgia | Written notice to a city within 6 months (O.C.G.A. § 36-33-5) |
| Michigan | Notice of a sidewalk or road defect within 120 days (MCL 691.1401(c), 691.1402a, 691.1404) |
Michigan’s 120-day notice applies specifically to road and sidewalk defects and must give the exact location and nature of the defect. Florida caps recovery at $200,000 per person. Photograph the defect before it’s repaired and note the exact location.
If you were a passenger
A passenger hurt in a single-car crash can usually claim against the driver’s liability insurance if the driver was careless — the driver’s insurer, not the driver, pays. In Florida, New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan, no-fault coverage pays the passenger’s medical bills first. Deadlines to sue are 2 or 3 years in the 10 largest states; see the claim deadline calculator.
What to do
- Call the police — especially if another driver forced you off the road or a road defect was involved.
- Photograph the road, skid marks, the defect or debris, signs, and the car.
- Look for witnesses and cameras; in a miss-and-run they may be what makes the UM claim possible.
- Keep the car and any failed part if a defect may be the cause.
- Notify your insurer and, for a road defect, the responsible government — in writing, before the deadline.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays for a single-vehicle accident?
It depends on what caused it. If you lost control on your own, your own coverage pays: collision for your car, and your no-fault (PIP), medical payments coverage or health insurance for your injuries. If another driver ran you off the road and left, your uninsured motorist coverage may pay. If a road defect caused it, you may have a claim against the government that maintains the road — with a short notice deadline.
Is a single-car accident automatically my fault?
Not automatically. A single-vehicle crash can be caused by another driver who never made contact, a pothole or missing guardrail, a defective tire or part, or an animal. But if nothing else is shown, insurers will usually treat it as the driver’s fault.
Can a passenger sue the driver after a single-car accident?
Generally yes. A passenger injured because the driver was careless can claim against the driver’s liability insurance, even if the driver is a friend; some policies limit claims by members of the driver’s own household. In no-fault states the passenger’s medical bills are paid first by no-fault coverage.
What if a car forced me off the road but didn’t hit me?
That’s a “miss-and-run.” Whether your uninsured motorist coverage pays depends on the state: California, Texas and New York require physical contact for an unidentified driver; Georgia accepts a no-contact crash with an eyewitness other than you; Ohio requires independent corroborating evidence. Report it to the police right away.
Can I sue the city for a pothole that caused my accident?
Sometimes, but government claims have special rules: notice deadlines measured in months (90 days in New York, 6 months in California, Texas and Pennsylvania, 120 days for a Michigan road defect), immunity rules, and in Florida a cap of $200,000 per person.
Reviewed by
Morgan Hale, Editor. Writes about the financial side of injury claims — fees, liens, timelines and state rules — and checks every page against its sources before it’s published. Not a lawyer; “Morgan Hale” is a pen name. Editorial policy · How we calculate
Sources
- California Insurance Code § 11580.2 — Uninsured motorist coverage (unknown driver: physical contact, 24-hour police report, 30-day sworn statement) (FindLaw (California Insurance Code))
- Texas Insurance Code § 1952.101 — Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage required unless rejected in writing (FindLaw (Texas Insurance Code))
- Texas Insurance Code § 1952.104 — Required provisions (unknown driver: actual physical contact) (FindLaw (Texas Insurance Code))
- Florida Statutes § 627.727 (2025) — Motor vehicle uninsured and underinsured vehicle coverage (The Florida Senate)
- New York Insurance Law § 3420(f) — Uninsured motorist coverage, including unidentified vehicles that leave the scene (New York State Senate)
- 75 Pa.C.S. § 1702 — Definitions (“uninsured motor vehicle” includes an unidentified vehicle, with reporting conditions) (FindLaw (Pennsylvania Vehicle Code))
- 75 Pa.C.S. § 1731 — Availability, scope and amount of uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (FindLaw (Pennsylvania Vehicle Code))
- 215 ILCS 5/143a — Uninsured and hit-and-run motor vehicle coverage (FindLaw (Illinois Insurance Code))
- Ohio Revised Code § 3937.18 — Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (unidentified driver: independent corroborative evidence) (FindLaw (Ohio Revised Code))
- O.C.G.A. § 33-7-11 — Uninsured motorist coverage (unknown driver: physical contact or an eyewitness) (FindLaw (Official Code of Georgia))
- Michigan Compiled Laws § 500.3105 — Personal protection insurance benefits, due without regard to fault (FindLaw (Michigan Insurance Code))
- Michigan Compiled Laws § 500.3172 — Assigned claims plan when no personal protection insurance applies or can be identified (FindLaw (Michigan Insurance Code))
- Michigan Compiled Laws § 500.3135 — Tort liability limits under no-fault (noneconomic loss threshold; up to $3,000 vehicle damage) (FindLaw (Michigan Insurance Code))
- California Government Code § 911.2 — Six months to present a claim to a public entity for death or injury (FindLaw (California Government Code))
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101 — Notice to a governmental unit within six months; city charter periods (FindLaw (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code))
- Fla. Stat. § 768.28 — Sovereign immunity waiver: claim within 3 years, DFS notice, $200,000/$300,000 limits (The Florida Senate)
- New York General Municipal Law § 50-e — Notice of claim within 90 days (New York State Senate)
- 42 Pa.C.S. § 5522 — Notice to a government unit within six months; contents (FindLaw (Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes))
- 745 ILCS 10/8-101 — Civil actions against a local entity: within one year (FindLaw (Illinois Compiled Statutes))
- Ohio R.C. 2744.04 — Actions against a political subdivision: within two years (FindLaw (Ohio Revised Code))
- O.C.G.A. § 36-33-5 — Claims against a municipality: written notice within six months (FindLaw (Georgia Code))
- MCL 691.1401 — Definitions: “highway” includes a sidewalk (FindLaw (Michigan Compiled Laws))
- MCL 691.1402a — Municipal sidewalks: 30-day knowledge, 2-inch presumption, open and obvious defense (FindLaw (Michigan Compiled Laws))
- MCL 691.1404 — Notice of a highway defect within 120 days (FindLaw (Michigan Compiled Laws))
- California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 — Two years for injury to, or death of, an individual (FindLaw (California Code of Civil Procedure))
- Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003 — Two years for personal injury, property damage and wrongful death (FindLaw (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code))
- Florida Statutes § 95.11 (2025) — Limitations other than for the recovery of real property (The Florida Senate)
- New York CPLR § 214 — Three years for personal injury and injury to property (New York State Senate)
- 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524 — Two years for personal injury, wrongful death and injury to personal property (FindLaw (Pennsylvania Judicial Code))
- 735 ILCS 5/13-202 — Two years for personal injury (FindLaw (Illinois Code of Civil Procedure))
- Ohio Revised Code § 2305.10(A) — Two years for bodily injury or injuring personal property (FindLaw (Ohio Revised Code))
- O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33 — Two years for injuries to the person (four for loss of consortium) (FindLaw (Official Code of Georgia))
- Michigan Compiled Laws § 600.5805(2) — Three years for death or injury to a person or property (FindLaw (Michigan Revised Judicature Act))
Not legal or financial advice. InjuryMath is not a law firm and does not sell or broker funding. This page gives general information based on the sources listed; your contracts and your state’s law control. For advice about your situation, talk to a licensed attorney in your state.