You have 3 years from the crash to file a Washington injury lawsuit, and the mistake that burns people immediately is assuming "no plate means no claim" and waiting to open a UM claim on their own policy.

The correct move is to treat this as a potential uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI) claim right now. In Washington, UM/UIM coverage is offered under RCW 48.22.030 unless you rejected it in writing. A hit-and-run driver who cannot be identified is usually treated as an uninsured motorist.

Do this first, in order:

• Report the hit-and-run to law enforcement immediately. In Spokane, that usually means Spokane Police Department or the Washington State Patrol if it happened on US-2, I-90, or another state route.
• Open a claim with your own auto insurer and use the words "uninsured motorist hit-and-run".
• Ask for the full policy: declarations page, UM/UIM limits, med-pay/PIP, and notice requirements.
• Preserve proof: photos, 911 log, body shop estimate, witness names, dashcam requests, and location details like milepost or nearest interchange.

Washington insurers often ask for prompt notice. Your policy may impose a shorter contract deadline than the 3-year lawsuit limit for giving notice, demanding arbitration, or suing under the policy. Missing that can cost coverage even if your injury claim is otherwise valid.

If the other driver is found later and only carries Washington's minimum liability limits, UIM may still cover the gap after that policy is exhausted. Washington minimum auto liability is $25,000 per person / $50,000 per crash for bodily injury and $10,000 for property damage.

If you use VA health care after the crash, that does not replace your UM claim. The VA and your auto insurer are separate systems. Keep every Explanation of Benefits, billing statement, and mileage record, especially during tax season when medical debt and reimbursement issues surface fast.