Just after midnight on Ventura Boulevard, traffic has finally thinned. A car blows a red light at Balboa, clips a smaller sedan, and keeps going. The injured driver sits in the dark with a smashed front end, ringing ears, and one haunting thought: the other car is gone.
That is a hit and run accident. A driver causes a crash, then leaves without sharing contact and insurance information or helping anyone who might be hurt. In California, and especially across Los Angeles and Encino, leaving the scene is treated very seriously under state law.
We are Los Angeles personal injury lawyers based in Encino. Our team at California Personal Injury Attorneys helps victims of hit and run crashes every week, from parking lot sideswipes to life‑changing freeway collisions. In this guide, we explain the legal, financial, and emotional consequences for both the driver who flees and the injured person left behind.
California follows a fault and comparative negligence system, so the driver who causes the crash is responsible for damages. In hit and run cases, there are added layers; insurance problems, DMV reporting rules, and possible criminal charges. Even so, we do not want you to panic. There are clear steps you can take to protect your health, your rights, and your future.
What Counts as a Hit and Run Accident in California?
In plain terms, a hit and run happens any time a driver causes a crash and leaves without taking basic legal steps. That can include not stopping, not sharing information, or not helping someone who is hurt.
In Los Angeles, we see hit and runs in many forms. A driver backs into a parked car at an Encino shopping center and drives off. A rideshare sideswipes you on the 101 and speeds away. A pedestrian is struck in a dim crosswalk, or a cyclist is clipped near Ventura Boulevard, and the car never stops. All of these can count.
The key point is that hit and run is not only about injuries. Leaving after any property damage, even a “minor” fender bender, can turn a normal crash into a crime.
Hit and run laws in Los Angeles and California
California law requires drivers to stop after a collision, share their name, address, and insurance information, and give reasonable help to anyone who appears injured. These duties apply anywhere in the state, including Encino and the wider San Fernando Valley.
If there is only property damage, leaving the scene can be charged as a misdemeanor. If someone is hurt or killed, it can be charged as a felony. Police and prosecutors in Los Angeles take these cases very seriously.
How hit and run is different from a normal car accident
In a typical crash, both drivers stay, check for injuries, exchange information, and call police when needed. Each person then reports the collision to their insurance company and, if there is injury or significant damage, often to the DMV.
In a hit and run, one driver disappears. That changes everything. Fault may be harder to prove, the at‑fault driver’s insurance may be unknown, and you may need to use your own uninsured motorist coverage. Even if you fear you might share some blame, you should never flee. Under comparative negligence, you can still recover part of your damages, but hit and run can expose you to criminal charges that follow you for years.
For a deeper look at how these cases work, you can review our Encino hit‑and‑run attorney services.
Criminal Consequences for Drivers Who Leave the Scene
Leaving after a crash is not just “bad manners” or a traffic ticket. It is a crime that can bring fines, jail or prison time, and a permanent record.
Those penalties affect real life. A conviction can damage your license, job prospects, immigration status, and even your ability to rent an apartment. Consequences are lighter for small property damage and much harsher when someone is badly hurt or killed.
Misdemeanor vs felony hit and run penalties
When a crash causes property damage only, hit and run is usually treated as a misdemeanor. Penalties can include fines, probation, county jail time, and points on your driving record.
If the collision causes injury or death, it can be charged as a felony. Felony hit and run can lead to much larger fines, years in state prison, and long‑term supervision. Even when judges show leniency, the conviction itself can follow you.
Driver’s license, DMV points, and insurance rate hikes
Hit and run cases often trigger action by the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Convictions can lead to license suspension or revocation, DMV points, and problems renewing or reinstating your license.
Separate from the criminal case, California Vehicle Code section 16000 requires drivers to file a DMV SR‑1 form within 10 days when a crash causes injury, death, or more than $1,000 in damage. Failing to report can bring additional DMV trouble. Insurance companies also react harshly to hit and run convictions, often raising rates sharply or dropping coverage entirely.
Long‑term criminal record and background check problems
A hit and run on your record can close doors long after the crash. Many Los Angeles jobs involve driving, delivery, or client visits, and background checks often screen out applicants with serious driving crimes.
Professional licenses, rideshare work, and some housing providers also look at criminal and DMV history. That is why anyone under investigation for hit and run should speak with a criminal defense lawyer, and anyone injured should speak with a personal injury lawyer, as early as possible.
Civil and Financial Consequences for Hit and Run Victims
For victims, the main impact is often financial and personal rather than criminal. You may face medical bills, lost income, ongoing pain, and damage to your car or motorcycle, all while the person who hurt you has vanished.
California is a fault state. The at‑fault driver is responsible for damages, and comparative negligence rules can reduce, but not erase, your recovery if you are found partly at fault. In hit and run cases, you still have important rights, even when the driver is not identified right away. Many of the cases we see involve pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, who are especially exposed in a crash.
To explore your options in detail, our guide on Los Angeles hit‑and‑run accident help is a useful resource.
Medical bills, lost income, and other financial losses
Economic losses fall into clear categories. These often include emergency care, hospital stays, follow‑up visits, imaging, physical therapy, medications, and sometimes long‑term care. You may also lose income while you heal or face reduced earning capacity if you cannot return to the same work.
Property damage to your car, bike, or gear is part of the claim as well. We always tell clients to keep every bill, receipt, and pay stub. Some injuries appear days after a crash, so seeing a doctor quickly protects both your health and your future claim.
Pain, suffering, and emotional trauma after a hit and run
Non‑economic damages cover the human side of an injury. That can include ongoing pain, sleep problems, fear of driving, panic in traffic, and the loss of joy in normal daily life.
Being left alone at the scene often makes hit and run trauma worse than a regular crash. Many clients describe feeling abandoned or disposable. California law recognizes these harms, and they should be part of any full settlement.
How comparative negligence can still affect a hit and run claim
Under comparative negligence, a court or insurer can assign a percentage of fault to each person. If your total damages are $100,000 and you are found 20 percent at fault, you can still recover $80,000.
In hit and run cases, this might come up if, for example, a pedestrian crossed mid‑block or a driver was speeding. Even then, we should not assume we have no case. Fault percentages are based on evidence and legal arguments, not on what you blurt out at the scene or say to an adjuster.
Statute of limitations and filing deadlines for hit and run cases
Most California personal injury claims have a two‑year deadline, measured from the date of the accident. Property damage claims often have up to three years. If a government entity may be involved, such as for unsafe road design or broken signals, you may have only six months to file an administrative claim.
Even if the driver is unknown at first, waiting is risky. Evidence fades, video is erased, and memories change. Talking with a lawyer early helps you avoid missed deadlines and protects your options.
Insurance Consequences and Coverage Options After a Hit and Run
When a driver flees, many people fear they have no way to pay for treatment or repairs. In reality, several types of insurance can help, starting with your own policy.
Common sources include uninsured motorist (UM or UIM) coverage, medical payments coverage (MedPay), collision coverage, and health insurance. In many Los Angeles cases, the hit and run driver is never found, and victims still recover fair compensation through these routes.
Uninsured motorist coverage in California hit and run cases
UM coverage is designed to stand in for the at‑fault driver’s insurance when that driver has no coverage or cannot be identified. In hit and run crashes, UM can pay for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering, up to your policy limits.
Many people do not realize they even carry UM until a lawyer reviews their declarations page. UM policies have strict rules about quick reporting, police reports, and cooperation. Getting legal guidance early helps you avoid technical mistakes that could cost you coverage.
Dealing with our own insurance company after a hit and run
When you make a claim under your own policy, your insurer does not become your advocate. It is still a business that profits by paying as little as possible.
Adjusters may ask for long recorded statements, suggest you share medical history that is not related, or push early low offers. It is important not to guess about how the crash happened, not to downplay pain, and not to sign broad releases until you understand your rights.
When the hit and run driver is found later
Sometimes police identify the fleeing driver days or weeks after the crash. When that happens, you may now have a direct claim against that driver and their liability carrier, along with any pending UM claim.
The criminal case and civil claim are separate, but they interact. A guilty plea, traffic citation, or detailed police report can support your injury case and make it harder for the defense to deny fault.
What Injured Victims Should Do Right After a Hit and Run Crash
Your first priority is safety. After that, the steps you take in the next hours and days can make a big difference in the strength of your claim.
We recommend a calm, simple plan: protect yourself, gather what proof you can, make the right reports, and avoid common mistakes. You should not chase the fleeing car, even if you feel angry. Pursuits can cause a second crash, confuse the evidence, and put your safety at risk.
For a more general checklist, see our guide on Immediate steps after an LA car crash.
Immediate safety steps at the scene
If you can move, get to a safe spot. Turn on hazard lights and try not to block fast‑moving traffic, especially near freeway on‑ramps or busy streets like Ventura Boulevard.
Call 911 if anyone might be hurt. Even if injuries seem minor, paramedics and ER doctors can spot hidden problems, and those records will later show that the crash caused your symptoms. In serious collisions, always ask for police to respond, even if the other driver is gone.
How to document the scene and gather evidence
Use your phone to take photos and short video clips. Capture vehicle damage, debris, skid marks, broken glass, street signs, and any traffic lights or stop signs.
Write down or record any detail you caught about the fleeing car, even a partial plate or basic color and body style. Get names and numbers for any witnesses. In Los Angeles, nearby security cameras, dashcams, and even bus or rideshare video can be key, and a lawyer can help track that footage before it is erased.
Reporting the hit and run to police, DMV, and insurance
Report the crash to LAPD or CHP as soon as you can, and get a report or incident number. A formal police report is often required for uninsured motorist claims and crime‑victim benefits.
If there was injury, death, or more than $1,000 in damage, California law also requires you to file a DMV SR‑1 form within 10 days. When you notify your insurer, keep your statement short and factual. Do not guess about fault or give a recorded statement without legal advice.
Common mistakes that can hurt a hit and run injury claim
Some errors show up again and again in files we review. Leaving the scene without calling police, skipping medical care, posting about the crash on social media, or signing broad releases for the other side’s insurer can all weaken a good claim.
Waiting months to talk with a lawyer can be costly too. Comparative negligence rules and strict filing deadlines mean that missing evidence or late action can lower your recovery or even bar your case completely.
How a Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyer Helps After a Hit and Run
Handling a hit and run claim on your own can feel like trying to rebuild a puzzle with half the pieces missing. Our job is to collect those pieces and deal with the legal and insurance pressure so you can focus on healing.
California Personal Injury Attorneys is based in Encino and serves clients across Los Angeles County. We offer a concierge approach, direct lawyer communication, and 24/7 availability, so you are never left wondering what is happening with your case.
Investigating the crash and finding all possible sources of compensation
We start by reviewing police reports, speaking with witnesses, and surveying the scene. When needed, we seek traffic and security video, dashcam footage, and vehicle data recorders to piece together what happened.
At the same time, we look for every possible insurance source. That can include your own auto policies, household policies, health insurance, and the at‑fault driver’s coverage if they are found. Many clients are surprised by how many paths to recovery exist once we review all the details.
Negotiating with insurance companies and handling settlement offers
We add up the full scope of your damages using medical records, bills, proof of lost income, and expert input when needed. Online settlement calculators ignore factors like comparative fault, policy limits, and long‑term care, so they often give false comfort.
Our team deals with the adjusters, handles the paperwork, and pushes back on low offers. You make the final decision to settle, but we prepare your case so that any offer you consider is grounded in real numbers, not guesswork.
To understand more about the lawsuit stage, you can read our overview of the stages of a personal injury lawsuit.
When a case goes to court and what clients can expect
If insurers refuse to pay a fair amount, we can file a lawsuit on your behalf. That process often includes written discovery, depositions, settlement talks, and, in some cases, trial.
Most cases settle before trial, but we prepare as if a judge or jury will decide. Timelines vary based on how complex the injuries are, how clear fault is, and whether there is a related criminal case that must play out first.
When to handle a hit and run claim alone and when to hire a lawyer
Some very small property‑only claims, with no pain or medical visits, can sometimes be handled directly with your insurer. Once you have any medical treatment, missed work, or emotional distress, the stakes are much higher.
Red flags that you need help include pushy adjusters, confusing forms, a quick settlement offer before you finish treatment, or any sign you might be blamed. Our firm works on a contingency fee, so you do not pay attorney fees up front, and we only get paid if we recover money for you.
FAQs About Hit and Run Injury Claims in Los Angeles
Do I still have a case if the hit and run driver is never found?
Yes. Many of our clients recover through uninsured motorist coverage, MedPay, and crime‑victim programs even when the driver is not identified. Quick reporting and strong documentation are the keys.
How long will my hit and run case take?
Simple claims can resolve in a few months. Cases with serious injuries, long treatment, or disputed fault often take longer, especially if a lawsuit is filed. We keep you updated so you always know where things stand.
What affects the value of a hit and run case?
Important factors include the seriousness of your injuries, length of treatment, permanent limits, total medical bills, lost income, pain and emotional harm, and the amount of insurance available. Comparative fault and missed deadlines can reduce value.
What can I do to help my own case?
Get medical care, follow treatment plans, keep a simple journal of pain and missed activities, save all bills, and avoid posting about the crash online. Send any letters or calls from insurers to your lawyer.
When should I call a lawyer?
We recommend reaching out as soon as you have received basic medical care. Early help lets us protect evidence, handle insurer contact, and watch every deadline from the start.
Conclusion
A hit and run is both a crime and a civil wrong. For victims across Los Angeles and Encino, it can feel like the floor has dropped out, but your rights do not disappear just because the other driver fled.
Early medical care, careful documentation, and prompt legal help often make the difference between a weak claim and a strong one. You do not have to face California’s fault rules, DMV reporting, and insurance tactics on your own.
If you or someone you love has been hurt in a hit and run, we invite you to contact California Personal Injury Attorneys for a free, no‑pressure consultation. We will review your options, explain the process in plain language, and fight to pursue maximum compensation while you focus on healing.