Belgium Sees 13 Daily Hit-and-Run Accidents Involving Fatalities or Injuries; Perpetrators Often Uninsured

Belgium is grappling with a concerning rise in hit-and-run accidents, with an average of 13 incidents involving fatalities or injuries occurring each day. Over the past decade, these accidents have surged by 8%, leaving vulnerable road users like pedestrians, cyclists, and electric scooter riders bearing the brunt of the danger.

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Some present themselves to the authorities once their state of intoxication has passed, but this of course does not diminish the suffering and injuries of the victims.

In 2025 alone, 1,006 pedestrians fell victim to hit-and-run drivers, representing one in four pedestrian accidents. Cyclists fared even worse, with 1,819 riders experiencing a fleeing perpetrator. Studies indicate that drivers involved in these incidents often operate under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Benoît Godart, spokesperson for the Vias institute, noted that while some surrender after sobering up, this does not diminish the victims' suffering. He also highlighted that perpetrators frequently lack valid documents, licenses, or insurance.

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Moreover, it regularly happens that the perpetrators are not in order with their documents, driving license, or insurance.

The statistics reveal a troubling trend: in 2025, 13% of all personal injury accidents involved a hit-and-run, up from 11% in 2016. These accidents resulted in 5,297 victims last year, including 20 fatalities, 200 serious injuries, and 5,077 minor injuries. Despite the increase, police and the Belgian common guarantee fund report that authorities successfully apprehend 85% of hit-and-run perpetrators, leaving only 15% of cases unsolved.

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These figures are worrying.

Legal consequences for fleeing the scene are severe. For property-damage-only accidents, offenders face jail time of 15 days to six months and fines ranging from €2,000 to €20,000, along with potential driving bans. When victims are injured or killed, penalties escalate significantly, including prison sentences of 15 days to three years, fines from €4,000 to €50,000, and driving bans lasting from three months to life.

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Fleeing is therefore never the right solution.