A hit-and-run in Brooklyn feels like a dead end: the driver who hurt you is gone, and there may be no one to sue. New York built a safety net for exactly this situation — but it has some of the shortest deadlines in all of personal injury law, and missing them forfeits the claim entirely.
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs and crossed by heavily traveled routes such as Atlantic Avenue and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE), which means accident and injury cases here often involve complex, locally specific legal issues. We regularly represent clients in and around Williamsburg, Park Slope, DUMBO, and we know the local court system — including Kings County Supreme Court at 360 Adams Street in Kings County, where Brooklyn cases are typically filed.
We provide personalized attention to every client, conducting thorough investigations, working with the right experts, and building cases insurance companies take seriously. The consultation is free and carries no obligation.
MVAIC: Compensation When the Driver Is Never Found
The Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (MVAIC) exists to compensate New Yorkers injured by unidentified or uninsured drivers who have no other coverage available. It pays both no-fault benefits and, for qualifying victims, bodily-injury damages. The requirements are strict:
- Report the crash to police within 24 hours — this is the requirement that quietly kills the most hit-and-run claims. If injuries made a same-day report impossible, report as soon as reasonably practicable and document why.
- File a Notice of Intention to Make Claim with MVAIC promptly — for hit-and-run victims the window is measured in days and weeks, not years.
- You must be a "qualified person" — generally a New York resident without their own applicable coverage.
Before MVAIC, we exhaust better options: if you own a car, or live with a relative who does, that policy's uninsured-motorist coverage likely applies to you even as a pedestrian — and it usually pays more smoothly than MVAIC.
Finding the Driver Anyway
"Unidentified" is often temporary. Brooklyn is dense with cameras — intersection cameras, building security, doorbells, bus and rideshare dashcams — but most footage is overwritten within days. Paint transfer on your vehicle or clothing, debris left at the scene, and canvassing for witnesses can identify a vehicle when police, handling dozens of open cases, cannot prioritize yours. Every identified driver converts a capped MVAIC claim into a full liability claim against a real policy — which is why we investigate first and treat MVAIC as the fallback.
Local Courts and Resources for Brooklyn Injury Cases
Hit and run claims arising in Brooklyn are generally handled in Kings County. Knowing the local venue and roadways helps us move your case efficiently:
- Court - Kings County Supreme Court at 360 Adams Street
- Court - the Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings County
- Areas we serve nearby - Williamsburg, Park Slope, DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Bay Ridge
Because Brooklyn is served by major trauma centers including Kings County Hospital, the circumstances behind an injury here can differ from other parts of New York. We tailor each claim to the local conditions, venue, and parties involved.
Frequently Asked Questions
The police never found the driver. Is my case over?
No. Your own household's uninsured-motorist coverage may apply even if you were on foot or on a bike, and MVAIC exists precisely for victims with no other coverage. But both routes have short notice requirements — the 24-hour police report and prompt MVAIC filing — so the worst thing you can do is wait to see if police make an arrest.
I was a pedestrian with no car insurance of my own. Who pays my medical bills?
In order of priority: the striking vehicle's insurer if the vehicle is ever identified; the auto policy of any relative you live with; and MVAIC if neither exists. One of these almost always applies — pedestrian hit-and-run victims in New York are rarely left with nothing, but only if the deadlines are met.
What does it cost to hire Josh Mak Law?
We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no upfront costs or attorney fees. We only get paid if we successfully recover compensation for you. Our fee is a percentage of your settlement or verdict, so our interests are aligned with yours—we're motivated to maximize your recovery.
What to Do After an Injury in Brooklyn
If you've been injured in Brooklyn, taking the right steps immediately after the accident can significantly impact your ability to recover compensation:
- Seek Medical Attention - Your health is the top priority. Get medical care even if injuries seem minor.
- Document Everything - Take photos, get witness contact information, and keep all medical records.
- Report the Incident - File necessary reports with police, property owners, or employers.
- Preserve Evidence - Keep damaged property, clothing, and any other physical evidence.
- Avoid Recorded Statements - Don't give recorded statements to insurance adjusters without legal counsel.
- Contact an Attorney - Speak with a Brooklyn injury lawyer before accepting any settlement offers.
Remember, insurance companies have teams of lawyers working to minimize payouts. You need an experienced advocate on your side.
Sources & Citations
Source: NY State Senate
Source: New York State Unified Court System