Many people have talked about hit and run accidents on these forums, and how the driver simply 'drove away'. How is this possible? When someone hits your car, do they simply up and drive away? Isn't this considered hit & run, a serious offense?

If you have had such as experience, please tell me how it occured, why you did not report it, and why no action was taken.

hit and run- sometimes, but in some states there needs to be a minimum amount ($$cash value) of damage for the police to get ionvolved.
The police could also care less about cyclists, so they don't care and don't get involved, leading some people to vigilante justice usually via ulocks.

I've been hit and run, both on bikes and in cars. If you are a reasonable human being, just suspend your natural instincts for a moment and follow this little story.

Joe-SUV has lots of speeding tickets, and is in danger of losing his license, or losing his insurance coverage. Since it is his god given right to own and drive a car, he is pissed about this prospect. While talking to his mistress on his cell phone, he runs a red light, and creams a cyclist. He looks out, and sees the cyclist holding his head and struggling to stand up. "Well, if he's standing, he definately isn't mortally wounded, and I'm sure as hell not getting another ticket." Lets just floor it and leave, that biker will be fine.

Ta da, a hit and run! Yes its a crime, but only if you get caught!

They happen all the time, and should be expected. Here in St. Louis I'm surprised when I hear about an accident that ISN'T a hit and run. Drivers are drunk-suspended-violating parole-have warrants-don't have insurance-etc. and it is cheaper for them to fix the dent on their own than it is to deal with the hassle of police and insurance. Plus, its very easy to rationalize it all by convincing yourself that the victim is going to be just fine. "Well, if they were riding such a shiny bike/car they've got plenty of money for repairs, I didn't see any blood, they were standing up, bikes only cost 75$ at x-mart and wouldn't even be a deductible, etc."

If you get their license plate and make an accident report, it is possible that the person will be caught. But without a plate and witnesses, the police have nothing to go on. I try to make an accident report anyway, because whether or not the police catch the person, it is important to let the police and the local government know that hit and runs are a problem.

peace,
sam

Also, people panic. They step on the gas before they think, and once the biker is out of sight, the incident is out of mind...

Once many years ago I witnessed a hit and run. A little girl ran out in front of car that was going about 20 mph. She went flying, bounced a couple of times in grass, and then she got up and ran away screaming. The car stopped, the guy got out, and then he looked all around the car, under the car, at the car, and under parked cars. I was on the balcony of a 3 story house half a block away. I rushed to the scene and got there just in time to see the man driving away. I waited at least 10 minutes more to see if anyone would show up so I could explain what happened. No one did. It was a hit and run where the pedestrian ran away.