Hit and Run Compensation Scheme in India: How to Claim (2026)
How the Hit and Run Compensation Scheme, 2022 works: who can claim, the fixed amounts for death and grievous injury, where to apply, the role of the Claims Enquiry Officer, and the MACT route if the vehicle is later traced. Last verified October 2026.
Explainer · Hit and Run Compensation
A hit and run accident is one where a vehicle causes death or injury and then gets away, so the offending vehicle cannot be identified even after the police try. Because there is no vehicle and no insurer to sue, a victim cannot run a normal claim. For this gap, the central government runs the Compensation to Victims of Hit and Run Motor Accidents Scheme, 2022. It pays a fixed amount, from a government fund, to the family of a person killed or to a person who suffers grievous injury. This explainer sets out the amounts, who can claim, where to apply, and what happens if the vehicle is later found. Last verified October 2026.
- When it applies: a hit and run case, where the offending vehicle cannot be identified.
- Amounts: Rs 2,00,000 for death and Rs 50,000 for grievous hurt, from 1 April 2022.
- Apply to: the Claims Enquiry Officer of the sub-division or taluka, in Form I, with police and medical papers.
- If the vehicle is traced: move to a full MACT claim against the owner and insurer, which is usually much larger.
01What counts as a hit and run accident
Under the scheme, a hit and run motor accident is one caused by a motor vehicle whose identity cannot be found, even after the police make reasonable efforts. The key point is that the vehicle is unknown. If the vehicle and its owner are known, the accident is not a hit and run case for this scheme, and the victim files a normal claim against the owner and insurer instead.
The scheme sits under Section 161 of the Motor Vehicles Act, which creates a fund to pay in exactly these cases, so a victim is not left with nothing when there is no one to sue.
02How much the scheme pays
The scheme pays a fixed amount, not a calculated one. From 1 April 2022 the amounts were raised to:
| Type of case | Fixed compensation |
|---|---|
| Death | Rs 2,00,000 |
| Grievous hurt | Rs 50,000 |
These replaced much smaller older amounts. The money comes from a government fund, so the victim does not have to find or sue the vehicle owner.
03Who can claim
The claim can be made by:
- In a death case: the legal representatives or family of the person who died.
- In an injury case: the person who suffered grievous hurt in the accident.
The scheme is meant to reach the victim quickly, so the process is simpler and faster than a full tribunal claim. It is a relief payment, not a full measure of the loss.
04Where and how to apply
You apply to the Claims Enquiry Officer of the sub-division or taluka where the accident took place. In most places this officer is a revenue official such as the Sub-Divisional Magistrate.
- Fill the application in Form I under the scheme. It can be filed in person or, where allowed, by electronic means.
- Attach the supporting papers: the police report of the accident, and the post-mortem report in a death case or the injury or disability certificate in a grievous hurt case.
- Give the undertaking the scheme asks for, in the prescribed form.
- Submit it to the Claims Enquiry Officer of the sub-division or taluka of the accident.
The police are expected to tell victims about the scheme and how to apply, so ask the investigating officer if you are not sure where to start.
05The role of the Claims Enquiry Officer
The Claims Enquiry Officer checks the application, makes a short enquiry into the accident, and prepares a report with the post-mortem or injury certificate. The officer then sends this report to the Claims Settlement Commissioner, who is usually the District Magistrate or a senior district officer.
The scheme sets a target for the officer to complete this within about a month of receiving the application, where possible. The Claims Settlement Commissioner then approves the payment, which is paid to the beneficiary. The idea is a fast, paperwork-light relief, not a drawn-out case.
06If the vehicle is later traced
Sometimes the police identify the vehicle after the scheme has already paid, or while the claim is pending. Once the vehicle and its insurer are known, the accident is no longer a true hit and run case, and the victim can pursue a normal, and usually much larger, claim before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal against the owner and insurer.
The scheme amount is only a fixed relief. A full tribunal claim is worked out on income, age and loss, and is often far higher. To understand that route, see how to file a MACT claim, and for the amount, see how MACT compensation is calculated.
07Where Claw fits
Claw is an all-in-one legaltech platform for Indian advocates, law firms, and corporate legal teams, combining AI-based case search, an AI legal assistant (Legal GPT), case management, and compliance automation across all Indian courts and tribunals.
If the offending vehicle is later traced and you move to a full tribunal claim, that matter runs for months through notice, evidence and the award. Claw tracks cases, orders and hearings across 9,102 courts, benches and forums, so you can follow a MACT matter by party name and catch each hearing. You can also search 30 crore+ judgments, with Supreme Court decisions from 1950 and High Court decisions from 1990, to see how courts have decided compensation in similar accidents, in under 5 seconds. Claw does not use your case documents to train its AI models.
If a hit and run vehicle is traced, create a FREE Claw account to track the resulting claim by party name and find comparable awards, using case search across Indian courts.
08Sources and further reading
- India Code (Motor Vehicles Act, Section 161): indiacode.nic.in
- Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (scheme notifications): morth.nic.in
- eCourts (tribunal case status): ecourts.gov.in
- Claw: clawlaw.in
This explainer is general information, not legal advice. Scheme amounts and forms can change by notification, so confirm the current rules with the district office before you apply.
09Frequently asked questions
What is the hit and run compensation scheme?
It is the Compensation to Victims of Hit and Run Motor Accidents Scheme, 2022, under Section 161 of the Motor Vehicles Act. It pays fixed compensation from a government fund when the offending vehicle in an accident cannot be identified.
How much compensation does it pay?
From 1 April 2022, Rs 2,00,000 for death and Rs 50,000 for grievous hurt. It is a fixed relief amount, not a calculated one.
Where do I apply for hit and run compensation?
You apply in Form I to the Claims Enquiry Officer of the sub-division or taluka where the accident happened, usually a revenue officer such as the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, with the police report and the post-mortem or injury certificate.
Who is the Claims Enquiry Officer?
A revenue officer of the sub-division or taluka who checks the application, makes a short enquiry and sends a report to the Claims Settlement Commissioner, usually the District Magistrate, who approves the payment.
What if the vehicle is found later?
Once the vehicle and insurer are known, the case is no longer a hit and run case. The victim can file a normal claim before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, which is usually much larger than the fixed scheme amount.
Is the scheme amount the full compensation?
No. It is a quick, fixed relief. A full tribunal claim is worked out on income, age and loss and is often far higher, so pursue that route if the vehicle is identified.