Local office in Tacoma, WA1201 Pacific Ave, Suite 605Directions

Hit-and-run in Tacoma?Talk to a lawyer for free.

You can still be paid after a hit-and-run, even if the driver is never found. Report it to police right away: Washington's insurance regulator advises within 72 hours.

  • No fee unless we winWe only get paid when you get paid.
  • Zero upfront costYour consultation is free, with no obligation.
  • Hablamos españolNative Spanish speakers. No confusion. No delays.
  • Available 24/7We'll meet you at your home or hospital.
Get my free consultationor call(800) 985-9565

No attorney's fees unless we recover compensation. Clients may be responsible for case costs. Read the disclaimer

A firefighter and an ambulance at a car crash at an intersection
I called Valero Law Group and got help right away. I didn't have to worry; they helped me step by step.
Lucy C.Hit-and-run clientGoogle review

Results that speak.Millions won for car accident clients.

We've won over $500 million for our clients, including the car accident cases below.

  • $6.25MPersonal injuryA confidential personal injury settlement.
  • $5MAuto accidentFor a husband and wife after the husband suffered a brachial plexus injury.
  • $2.34MAccident claimA win for a client injured in an accident.
  • $1.5MAuto accidentA win for a client injured in an auto accident.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and each case is different.

View all results

After a hit‑and‑run in Tacoma,what to do first.

Six steps that protect your claim, in roughly the order they come up.

Valero Law Group attorneys meeting around a conference table
  • Report it right away
    Call 911 if someone is injured or the driver has just fled. Otherwise, on Tacoma's streets call Tacoma Police at (253) 287-4455: its online form doesn't take hit-and-runs. On I‑5, Highway 16 and the other freeways, it's the Washington State Patrol. Get the report number. The state's insurance regulator advises reporting within 72 hours, and if the car never touched you, a report within 72 hours is a condition of the coverage.
  • Write down what you saw
    Any part of the plate, the make and color, which way the driver went, and the names and numbers of anyone who stopped. If the car never touched you, Washington requires evidence beyond your own account, so a witness can make the difference.
  • Ask for video quickly
    Ask nearby businesses and neighbors for security and doorbell video right away, before it's recorded over. If you have a dash cam, save the clip.
  • Tell your own insurer
    Report it to your insurance company right away, and check your declarations page for underinsured motorist coverage and PIP. UIM comes with every Washington auto policy unless the policyholder turned it down in writing.
  • Ask about the crime victims program
    If the driver was drunk or high, hit you on purpose, or drove recklessly and caused a serious injury, Washington's Crime Victims Compensation Program can help with medical bills and lost wages that insurance doesn't cover. It needs a police report within one year. Call L&I at 1-800-762-3716.
  • Keep your other deadlines
    If no officer wrote a report, drivers must file their own within four days when anyone was injured or damage reached $1,000. If police find the driver, a lawsuit generally has to be filed within three years.

When the driver gets away,who pays?

Usually your own insurance. The driver's insurer pays too, if police find them, and for some hit-and-runs a state fund for crime victims can help.

Your injuries

Medical bills, lost pay, pain and suffering

Your car

Repairs or its value

  • Underinsured motorist property damage, even if the driver is never found
  • Your collision coverage, after its deductible
  • Rental car coverage, if your policy includes it
  • The driver and their insurer, if police find them
  • 72 hoursto report it to policeWashington's insurance regulator advises reporting any hit-and-run within 72 hours. If the other car never touched you, a report within 72 hours is a condition of the coverage.
  • $300the most your car deductible can beUnderinsured motorist coverage can pay to fix your car after a hit-and-run, and the deductible can't be more than $300.
  • 1 in 5injury crashes on Tacoma's streets was a hit-and-runFrom 2021 to 2025, about 1 in 5 crashes that injured someone on Tacoma's streets was a hit-and-run, in the City's crash data.
Mount Rainier above Tacoma's Ruston Way waterfront

Our office in Tacoma

Local hit-and-run lawyers,right here in Tacoma.

Not every firm that advertises in Tacoma has an office here. We do.

Our office is in the 1201 Pacific tower downtown. Come in, or we'll come to you anywhere in Pierce County, at home or in the hospital.

Why choose Valero Law Group?

We champion every case,big and small.

Whether your case is worth $5,000 or $5 million, we bring the same skill, attention and determination to every client we represent.

So don't let the size of your case keep you from seeking justice: every injury deserves serious representation. Let us fight for the compensation you're owed while you focus on what matters most, your recovery.

They made me feel like a priority, and they put my needs first as a client.

IsabelValero Law Group client

400+five-star Google reviews

Real reviews fromour car accident clients.

  • Samuel M. smiling in the Valero Law Group office with his $881,000 settlement check
    Samuel M.$881,000
  • Victoria M. smiling in front of the Valero Law Group logo wall with her $625,000 settlement check
    Victoria M.$625,000
  • Karina C. smiling in the Valero Law Group office with her $625,000 settlement check
    Karina C.$625,000
  • Angela M. smiling and pointing to her $625,000 settlement check
    Angela M.$625,000
  • Destiny H. smiling with her $500,000 settlement check
    Destiny H.$500,000
  • Javier P. smiling in the Valero Law Group office with his $375,000 settlement check
    Javier P.$375,000
This company has helped me so much I can't even explain. When I was around 18 I was involved in a hit and run accident, and the company and Ms. Ashley J. provided me with the best support and allowed me to get the justice that I truly deserved.
Zay B.Google review
Read all 400+ of our reviews
Thank you for helping me with my car accident. Leticia is the best!
Julian S.Google review
I was glad Valero Law Group took over my case and helped me with my accident. They took care of me and did a really good job.
Nick M.Google review
A man and a boy in traditional Colombian hats and jerseys holding Valero Law Group signs at a community event

Al Barro Foundation: supporting over 400 orphans in Mexico

From the community, for the community.

Hablamos español.

We're a Hispanic-focused firm with native Spanish-speaking attorneys. We understand your family's needs, walk you through every step in your language, and fight to get you every dollar you deserve.

Organizations we support

Sponsor of the 2024 Share the Road Scholarship

Our community outreach
  • Al Barro Foundation
  • EUNIME por Tijuana, A.C.
…they speak excellent Spanish, know how to help, and look out for their clients' best interests.
Yesica H.Google review
Ver esta página en español

Organizations we support

Sponsor of the 2024 Share the Road Scholarship

Our community outreach
  • Al Barro Foundation
  • EUNIME por Tijuana, A.C.

Common questionsafter a hit‑and‑run in Tacoma.

Can I get compensation if the driver is never found?
Often, yes. Underinsured motorist coverage on your own policy covers hit-and-run drivers in Washington, and it can pay for your injuries and your car. Your PIP and health insurance can help too, and for some hit-and-runs, so can the state's crime victims program.
Can I report a hit-and-run to Tacoma Police online?
No. Tacoma Police's online reporting is only for lost property, theft, vandalism and car prowls. Call 911 at the scene, or (253) 287-4455 afterward, and get the report number.
What if the car never touched me?
Underinsured motorist coverage can still apply to a "phantom" driver who forced you off the road, but only if the crash was reported to police within 72 hours and the facts are backed up by evidence other than your own account, such as a witness or video.
Will my insurance pay for my car?
It can. In Washington, underinsured motorist coverage can pay to fix your car after a hit-and-run even if the driver is never found, with a deductible of no more than $300. Collision coverage, if you have it, can pay too, minus its own deductible.
I was walking or on a bike. Am I covered?
Often. Underinsured motorist coverage generally protects you and relatives who live with you when a car hits you, not only when you're driving, and your household's PIP can pay medical bills. Check your policy's wording, or let us.
What happens to the driver if they're caught?
Leaving the scene of a crash that injured someone is a felony in Washington, with up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine, and more if someone died. Separately, you can claim against the driver and their insurance.
What does a hit-and-run lawyer cost?
Nothing upfront. Your consultation is free, and no attorney's fees are owed unless we recover compensation for you. You may be responsible for case-related costs and expenses; we'll explain them before you sign.
Attorney Marie Ballon
Marie BallonAttorney, Valero Law Group

Our easy 3-stepcase review process.

We make getting legal help simple.

  1. Free consultationCall us 24/7 or fill out our form. We'll review your case at no cost.
  2. Review your caseOur experienced attorneys investigate and evaluate your case to build the strongest claim possible.
  3. Injury litigationWe fight for maximum compensation, in negotiation or in court.
Start my free case review

Don't wait. There are legal deadlines.

A Valero Law Group team member smiling beside a firm car with the VLG logo on the door

Have a question about a potential case?Talk to a Tacoma hit-and-run lawyer today.

Your consultation is always free, with no obligation. We're happy to answer any questions and walk you through your options. No pressure, just honest answers.

(800) 985-9565
  • Available 24/7, including weekends
  • Hablamos español
  • Free and confidential, no obligation

Get your free case review

Free and confidential. Sending this form does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Thank you. We'll call you shortly.

If it's urgent, call us now at (800) 985-9565. We're available 24/7.

This is a design preview, so nothing was sent.

Car accidents in Tacoma

Other types of car accidents

Other cases we handle in Tacoma

Tacoma Personal Injury Lawyer
(800) 985-9565Free review