Someone just hit your car and drove away. Without a license plate or insurance information, you may be unsure how to pay your medical bills and repair costs. A hit and run lawyer in Los Angeles can protect your claim and pursue compensation even if police never find the driver.

 

I am Shawn S. Hakakian, founder of Hakakian Law Group, PC. We help people injured in Los Angeles hit-and-run crashes document their losses, pursue available insurance coverage, and evaluate claims against drivers who are later identified. Call (310) 759-9663 for a free consultation. You pay nothing upfront, and we charge no attorney’s fee unless we win.

 

Why Drivers Flee the Scene in California

Drivers may flee because they lack insurance, have a suspended license, were driving under the influence, face arrest, or simply panic. Their reason does not excuse what they did, and it does not make the crash your fault.

 

What to Do After a Hit and Run in California

After a hit-and-run crash, move to a safe location if necessary and call 911. Seek medical care, record what you remember, collect witness contact information, and photograph the scene if you can do so safely. Do not chase the fleeing driver; protect yourself and preserve the evidence your lawyer will need. 

 

Stay at the scene. Do not follow the other driver. Chasing them can put you in danger and can hurt your legal case later.

 

Call 911. Report the accident to police right away. A prompt police report documents when and where you reported the hit-and-run crash and may be required for an uninsured motorist claim. Ask for the report number before the officer leaves.

 

Get medical help. Even if you feel fine, go to a doctor. Some injuries take hours or days to show symptoms. Medical records document your symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and when you sought care after the crash.

 

Write down everything you remember. Note the color, make, and model of the car that hit you. Write down any part of the license plate you saw. Record the time, location, and direction the driver went.

 

Talk to witnesses. If anyone saw the crash, get their name and phone number. Witness statements can help establish how the collision occurred and identify the fleeing vehicle.

 

Take photos. Use your phone to photograph your car, the road, traffic signs, skid marks, and any injuries you can see. These photographs can document vehicle damage, road conditions, visible injuries, and evidence that may later disappear.

Preserving this information gives your attorney evidence to evaluate insurance coverage, document your losses, and investigate the fleeing vehicle.

 

How Settlement Negotiation Works When the Driver Is Never Found

If the driver is never identified, settlement negotiations usually involve a UM claim against your own insurer—not a claim against the missing driver’s insurance company. Your attorney proves that the hit-and-run occurred, documents your losses, demands payment, and challenges an unfair offer.

 

Police may still identify the driver through traffic cameras, business security footage, vehicle debris, or witness descriptions. If that happens, your lawyer can pursue the driver and any available insurance.

 

When the driver remains unknown, your insurer may question the collision, your medical treatment, or the value of your injuries. Hakakian Law Group, PC builds the claim with the police report, photographs, witness accounts, medical records, wage-loss evidence, and repair documents. We present the supporting records, respond to the insurer's objections, and explain how the crash affected your health, income, and daily life.

 

Uninsured Motorist Claims in Los Angeles: What You Need to Know

California uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage may compensate you when a hit-and-run driver is not identified and the claim satisfies the policy and statutory requirements. You submit the claim to your own insurer, and any payment remains subject to the coverage terms and policy limits.

 

How it works. If you carry uninsured motorist (UM) coverage on your policy, your insurance company steps in to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering, up to your policy limits. Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage may pay covered medical expenses, lost income, and noneconomic damages caused by the uninsured driver, subject to the policy's terms and limits.

 

The physical contact rule. California Insurance Code § 11580.2 generally requires physical contact with the unknown vehicle for a hit-and-run uninsured motorist bodily injury claim. A witness does not replace that physical-contact requirement under the statute. The insured must also report the accident to police within 24 hours and submit a sworn statement to the insurer within 30 days stating that the insured has a cause of action against an unidentified person.

 

Your insurer may dispute the claim. Your insurer can investigate whether the collision and injuries are covered, request supporting records, and dispute the amount claimed. A hit-and-run attorney can review the policy, provide evidence of covered losses, and challenge a denial or undervalued offer.

 

Hit and Run Penalties in California

California hit and run penalties depend on whether the crash caused only property damage or also caused injury or death. Vehicle Code § 20002 addresses property-damage cases, while Vehicle Code § 20001 applies to crashes involving injury or death.

 

Property Damage Only: Vehicle Code § 20002

California Vehicle Code § 20002 makes it a misdemeanor to leave a qualifying collision that caused property damage without completing the required duties. The statute authorizes up to six months in county jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Other consequences may depend on the case and applicable law.

 

Injury or Death: Vehicle Code § 20001

California Vehicle Code § 20001 applies when a driver involved in a collision that causes injury or death fails to perform the duties required by law. The available misdemeanor or felony sentence depends on the harm caused and the charging provision. For a collision causing death or permanent, serious injury, the statute authorizes two, three, or four years in state prison, or a county jail term of at least 90 days and up to one year, along with a fine of $1,000 to $10,000.

 

How a criminal case relates to a civil claim. A conviction for leaving the scene establishes that the driver violated hit-and-run law, but it does not by itself prove that the driver caused the collision. Evidence from the criminal investigation may still help identify the driver or document the crash. Any restitution order must be considered when evaluating additional recovery through a civil claim.

 

What Compensation Can You Recover?

Hit and run victims can recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage. The available amount depends on the injuries, evidence, insurance coverage, and whether the fleeing driver is found.

Victims can typically recover money for:

• Medical bills. Emergency room visits, surgeries, physical therapy, medication, and future treatment.

• Lost wages. Time you missed at work while recovering, including future earning ability if your injuries are long-term.

• Pain and suffering. The physical pain and emotional stress caused by the crash and its aftermath.

• Property damage. Repairs to your car or its fair market value if the car is totaled.

A hit-and-run claim's value depends on the documented injuries and losses, available insurance coverage, applicable policy limits, and whether the fleeing driver is identified. Hakakian Law Group, PC evaluates those factors before advising a client about a possible recovery.

 

Statute of Limitations for a California Hit and Run Claim

California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 generally provides two years to file a lawsuit for injury caused by another person's wrongful act or neglect. Different deadlines and notice requirements may apply to uninsured motorist claims, claims involving government entities, minors, and other circumstances. Prompt action also helps preserve records, photographs, and witness information.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Will uninsured motorist coverage cover a hit and run in California?

Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage may apply when an unidentified driver flees after making physical contact with the insured, the insured vehicle, or an occupied vehicle. Hakakian Law Group, PC can review whether the policy and the requirements in California Insurance Code § 11580.2 are satisfied. That review helps identify applicable coverage and time-sensitive reporting obligations.

 

What if the hit and run driver is never found?

If the hit-and-run driver is not identified, uninsured motorist coverage may provide compensation when the claim meets the policy and statutory requirements. Hakakian Law Group, PC reviews the policy, documents covered losses, and handles communications with the insurer. That work can identify available coverage and support a timely claim.

 

How long do I have to file a hit and run claim in California?

California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 generally allows two years to file a personal injury lawsuit, but insurance claims and special defendants may involve different notice periods or deadlines. Hakakian Law Group, PC can determine which deadlines apply to the claim and policy. An early review helps preserve evidence and avoid missing a required notice or filing date.

 

Do I need a lawyer for a hit and run accident?

California law does not require you to hire a lawyer for a hit-and-run claim. Hakakian Law Group, PC can review coverage, preserve evidence, calculate documented losses, and negotiate disputed issues with the insurer. Legal representation can help you understand the claim's requirements and evaluate any settlement offer. The firm handles these matters on a contingency-fee basis, so no attorney's fee is charged unless it obtains a recovery.

 

Contact a Hit and Run Accident Attorney in Los Angeles

Get medical attention first, then call Hakakian Law Group, PC. Shawn Hakakian and Hakakian Law Group, PC will review the crash, explain your options, and help you pursue any available claim.

Your consultation is free, and you pay no attorney's fee unless Hakakian Law Group, PC obtains a recovery for you. Call (310) 759-9663 to discuss your options.

 

 

Disclaimer: This post is considered attorney advertising and is for informational purposes only. It does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.