The worst mistake people make is assuming a missing driver means no claim and then missing their own policy notice deadlines.

Yes, sometimes - but the answer changes depending on what happened.

• If it was a true hit-and-run in Overland Park: You may have a claim under your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. In Kansas, auto policies generally include UM/UIM coverage unless properly rejected. Report the crash to Overland Park Police right away, get the case number, and tell your insurer promptly that this is a hit-and-run UM claim. If there is no plate number, your insurer will focus hard on proof: photos, witnesses, dashcam, 911 records, vehicle damage, and medical records tying the injuries to the crash.

• If the driver is identified but has no insurance: Usually yes. That is the clearest UM situation. Kansas is a no-fault state, so your PIP coverage should pay initial medical bills and some wage loss first, regardless of fault. After that, your UM claim can cover injury damages the uninsured driver should have paid. If you are a veteran, VA treatment does not replace the injury claim; it just means another payment system may be involved.

• If the driver had only Kansas minimum limits: Usually yes, if your damages are higher. Kansas minimum liability limits are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash for bodily injury. If your concussion, TBI symptoms, lost income, or ongoing treatment cost more than that, your underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage may fill part of the gap.

Kansas's general deadline to sue for most injury claims is 2 years. Do not let an end-of-year policy renewal, a rushed settlement, or an insurer's "we need one more form" push you past that. If the crash happened on US-69, I-70, or an Overland Park street with sun glare or winter conditions, preserve every detail because insurers often try to blame the road instead of the missing driver.