If the ER or urgent care told you neck pain, concussion symptoms, or soft-tissue injury, your insurance company will use that record to decide whether you were hurt, when you were hurt, and whether the crash caused it. That is why the first move is medical care now, then a police report immediately.

The next question you should be asking is: do I have uninsured motorist coverage on my own car policy? In Mississippi, a hit-and-run driver is usually handled as an uninsured motorist (UM) claim if the driver cannot be identified. Mississippi liability minimums are only $25,000 for one injured person, $50,000 per crash, and $25,000 for property damage, so even when a driver is found, coverage can be too low.

Do these things right away in Gulfport:

• Call 911 or the Gulfport Police Department and get an official crash report number.
• Tell your insurer this was a hit-and-run and you want to open a UM claim.
• Take photos of damage, skid marks, road conditions, and your injuries.
• Get names of any witnesses, nearby businesses, or homes with cameras.
• Keep every discharge paper, bill, prescription, and work note.

Do not guess about speed, distance, or injuries in a recorded statement.

Mississippi usually gives 3 years to file a car-crash injury lawsuit, but your policy notice deadline can be much sooner, and late notice can cause problems with UM coverage. If the other driver is later found but only has the state minimum, your underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage may also matter.

If your insurer delays, denies the hit-and-run claim, or says no plate means no case, the Mississippi Insurance Department is the state agency that handles insurance complaints. Mississippi also has no cap on non-economic damages in most auto injury cases, so pain, limitations, and disruption to daily life can still matter.