A hit-and-run can feel like getting knocked off your feet twice, first by the crash, then by the shock of watching the other driver disappear into Los Angeles traffic. One second we’re trying to catch our breath, the next we’re staring at damage, pain, and a question that won’t quit: “Now what?”
In plain terms, a hit-and-run accident happens when a driver causes a crash and leaves without stopping to exchange information or help. It can happen to drivers, riders, pedestrians, and passengers, from a freeway sideswipe near the 101 to a parking lot impact in Encino.
California is a fault state, which means proving what happened matters. The good news is we can still protect our health, document the facts, and build a strong claim even when the at-fault driver is unknown. We’ll walk through the steps that keep you safer, help with insurance calls, and put you in the best position to recover compensation.
Right away at the scene, how we stay safe and capture the details that matter
The first minutes after a hit-and-run are loud and messy, horns, adrenaline, confusion. We don’t need to do everything perfectly. We just need to do the right things in the right order: safety, medical care, then documentation.
If the crash happened on a busy street like Ventura Boulevard, near a freeway on-ramp, or at a crowded intersection, we also think about a second collision. Cars don’t always slow down just because we’re shaken up. We protect ourselves first, then we preserve evidence before it vanishes.
For a broader refresher on immediate crash steps, we can also use this guide: What to do right after a car accident in Los Angeles.
Safety and medical care come first, even if we feel “fine”
We start by checking for injuries in ourselves and others. If anyone might be hurt, we call 911. If we’re able to move and it’s safe, we get out of active lanes and into a safer spot nearby (shoulder, parking lot, curb). We turn on hazard lights. If we can’t move the vehicle safely, we stay belted in and wait for help.
We also take medical care seriously because shock can lie. After a hit-and-run, adrenaline can mask pain for hours. That’s why we don’t downplay symptoms, and we don’t let anyone talk us into “sleep it off.” Early care also creates a medical record that connects injuries to the crash, which can become a big deal when insurers later question what’s real.
Common delayed symptoms we watch for include:
- Neck or back pain that builds over the next day or two
- Headaches or pressure behind the eyes
- Dizziness or balance issues
- Numbness or tingling in arms, hands, legs, or feet
If any of these show up, we get checked. Hidden injuries are common in rear-end hits, sideswipes, and pedestrian impacts, and waiting too long can hurt both health and the claim.
We gather the best evidence we can before it disappears
A hit-and-run is like trying to solve a puzzle while someone is sweeping pieces off the table. Evidence fades fast in LA, traffic moves, debris gets kicked aside, and video can be overwritten in days.
If we’re able, we document what we see:
- Photos and video of vehicle damage, the full scene, and close-ups
- Any license plate details, even partial, plus make, model, color, and distinguishing marks
- Debris, skid marks, and the point of impact
- Traffic lights, signs, lane markings, and lighting conditions
- Nearby businesses, homes, or intersections that may have cameras (we write down addresses)
- Weather and road conditions, including rain or glare
We also get witness contact info. One neutral witness can change everything in a disputed hit-and-run. We keep it simple: name, phone number, and a quick note about what they saw.
One hard rule: we don’t chase the fleeing driver. Chasing can cause another crash, and it can complicate what police and insurers later think happened. Our job is to stay safe and preserve facts. The police report and our medical records often become core evidence later.
Reporting a hit-and-run in California, what to file, what deadlines apply, and what not to say
Reporting isn’t just paperwork. It’s how we create an official record that supports insurance claims and protects our rights. In hit-and-run cases, police documentation can also help trigger uninsured motorist benefits and push an investigation forward.
We also keep our language careful. The wrong offhand comment, said while stressed, can get repeated for months by insurers. We stick to what we know, and we avoid guessing.
If you want more detail about how LA treats fleeing drivers, see Legal consequences for a driver who flees the scene in Los Angeles (hit-and-run).
Police report and DMV report, how we stay compliant and protect our case
We report the crash to law enforcement, especially when there’s injury, major damage, or any dispute about what happened. Officers can assess the scene and create a police report, which serves as an official record for insurance and any legal claim. We always ask for the report number at the scene, then request a copy when it’s ready.
California also has a DMV reporting rule that catches many people off guard. Under California Vehicle Code 16000, drivers generally must report a crash to the DMV when it involves injury or death, or when property damage is over $1,000. The deadline is usually 10 days (often done with an SR-1 form). That’s a short clock when we’re also dealing with medical visits, towing, and missed work.
That DMV report doesn’t decide fault, but failing to file can create problems we don’t need. When we represent clients, we help keep these reporting steps organized, so nothing gets missed.
Insurance calls can hurt our claim, so we keep control of the conversation
After a hit-and-run, insurance adjusters may call fast. They can sound kind. Their job is still to limit payouts. We keep our calls short and controlled, and we don’t volunteer guesses.
Safe ways to handle the first conversation:
- We confirm basics (name, policy number, date, location) and ask for a claim number.
- We decline recorded statements until we’ve gotten legal advice.
- We don’t sign medical releases that give broad access to our full history.
- We don’t guess about injuries or say we’re “fine” if we haven’t been evaluated.
We also save receipts and documents: towing, rental cars, ride costs, prescriptions, copays, and repair estimates. These out-of-pocket items add up, and they’re easy to forget months later.
We’re also cautious about quick settlement offers. Early money can feel like relief, but if symptoms worsen or treatment expands, that early check may not cover what we truly need.
Getting paid after a hit-and-run, where compensation can come from and what drives case value
When the other driver is unknown, we usually shift from “Who hit us?” to “How do we pay for the damage and care?” In many Los Angeles hit-and-run cases, compensation still comes from insurance, just not from the source people expect.
A hit-and-run claim’s value depends on proof and impact. Online settlement calculators can’t measure things like future care, time missed from work, or how a back injury changes daily life. Those tools also don’t account for how insurers treat gaps in treatment, missing reports, or unclear liability.
For a deeper look at recovery paths, read compensation options for LA hit-and-run victims.
Common ways we recover money when the driver is not found
Even if police don’t identify the driver, we may have options, depending on coverage:
Uninsured motorist bodily injury (UM) can apply when the at-fault driver can’t be identified. It may cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering, up to policy limits. Many policies require prompt reporting and proof of the hit-and-run, which is one reason the police report matters so much.
Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD), if available, can help with vehicle repairs. Rules vary by policy.
Collision coverage can pay to repair your car (minus your deductible), even if the driver is never found.
MedPay (medical payments coverage) may help pay medical bills early, regardless of fault, depending on the policy.
In some cases, there may be third-party responsibility, but we treat this carefully. Examples might include a dangerous road condition tied to a government entity, or a property owner’s failure to address a known hazard on private property. These claims have special notice requirements and short deadlines, so we don’t wait to evaluate them.
We also keep comparative negligence in mind. California’s comparative fault rules can reduce recovery if we’re found partly responsible. That’s another reason we don’t admit fault at the scene or on insurer calls.
What damages we can claim in California, and why the numbers vary a lot
In California, hit-and-run victims may be able to claim economic damages, such as medical bills, rehab, future treatment, lost wages, reduced earning ability, and property loss. We may also pursue non-economic damages, like pain, anxiety, and loss of enjoyment of life.
If the driver is later identified and the conduct is extreme (for example, DUI combined with fleeing), punitive damagesmay be possible in some cases, but they’re not automatic and depend on proof and legal standards.
Timing matters, too. In general, California allows two years to file most personal injury lawsuits. Property damage claims often have a different deadline (commonly three years). Cases involving government entities can require action far sooner, often within six months for an administrative claim.
Two quick, anonymized scenarios we see in real life:
In one case, a driver is hit on a side street in the Valley, feels sore, waits two weeks to get care, and has no witnesses. The insurer argues the injuries weren’t crash-related. The case becomes an uphill fight.
In another case, a pedestrian is struck near a busy shopping area, calls 911, gets immediate evaluation, and a witness confirms the fleeing car’s direction of travel. Even if the driver isn’t found, the documentation supports uninsured motorist benefits and strengthens settlement talks.
Same city, same problem, very different outcomes because of records and proof.
When we should call a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, and how a case usually moves from claim to settlement
Some hit-and-run cases are manageable on our own. Many aren’t, especially in Los Angeles where insurers move fast and evidence disappears quickly. When we get involved early, we can help preserve video, collect witness statements, and handle insurer communications so you can focus on treatment.
If you want help built around hit-and-run claims, our practice page is here: Hit & Run Accident Attorney in Encino, CA.
Red flags that mean we need legal help now
We should talk with a lawyer quickly when the stakes are high or the facts are unclear, including when:
- We have injuries, an ambulance ride, ER visit, or ongoing treatment.
- We missed work, can’t do our job, or fear a long recovery.
- The driver is unknown, uninsured, or may have been a rideshare or commercial driver.
- Fault is disputed, or we’re being blamed.
- An adjuster pressures us for a recorded statement or quick settlement.
- A UM claim is delayed or denied.
- There are policy limit concerns, multiple vehicles, or gaps in medical care.
Fast action also helps preserve footage from nearby businesses, parking structures, and traffic cameras, which may be overwritten quickly.
Typical timeline and what we can do to speed things up
Most cases move through phases: investigation, medical treatment, assembling a demand package, negotiations, and, if needed, a lawsuit with discovery, mediation, and trial preparation. Minor injury cases can resolve in weeks to months. Serious injuries usually take longer because we need a full medical picture before we talk final numbers.
Clients can help keep momentum by following treatment, keeping a simple symptom journal, saving receipts, and sharing witness info fast. We also suggest staying off social media posts about the crash, because insurers look for anything they can twist.
Hit-and-run accident FAQs for Los Angeles and Encino
Do we have to call police for every hit-and-run?
If there’s injury, a dangerous scene, or significant damage, calling police is the safest choice. Even in a lower-damage hit-and-run, a police report often becomes key for uninsured motorist claims and proving the driver fled.
What if we only got part of the license plate?
That can still help. Partial plates, vehicle color, make, model, and the direction of travel can narrow suspects, especially when paired with camera footage.
Can we still recover if we think we were partly at fault?
Yes. California’s comparative negligence rules can reduce recovery by a percentage, but they don’t automatically erase the case. We avoid admitting fault early because the final decision should be based on evidence.
Should we accept the insurer’s first offer?
We usually wait until we understand the full medical picture. Once we settle, we typically can’t reopen the claim, even if symptoms get worse later.
Conclusion
After a hit-and-run, we focus on a simple plan: get safe, get medical care, document what we can, and report the crash properly. In California, the police report and DMV reporting rules matter, and early records often decide whether insurance pays fairly or fights. We also keep tight control of insurance conversations, because adjusters can use casual comments to cut a claim down. Compensation can still be available through uninsured motorist coverage and other policies, even when the driver isn’t found.
If you’re dealing with a hit-and-run in Los Angeles or Encino, we can take the stress off your shoulders. We’re available 24/7 for a free consultation, and we handle the insurers, evidence, and paperwork so you can focus on healing.