The driver left. Your coverage didn't.
Hit-and-run · Los Angeles
Hit by a driver who drove off
A hit-and-run leaves you without the other driver's insurance. These guides cover the deadlines and coverage that can still pay for your injuries.
Se habla español — Spanish-speaking staff available at the sponsoring firm, Apollo Law Group.
Call Apollo Law Group (888) 457-0888
Attorney Advertising. Sponsored placement, paid advertisement. Apollo Law Group is not part of or owned by LawyersTrend.
Do this now
Two deadlines start immediately
Police report within 24 hours
To use uninsured motorist coverage for a hit-and-run, the crash must be reported to the police or CHP within 24 hours (Insurance Code 11580.2).
Notify your insurer within 30 days
The same law requires a sworn statement to your own insurer within 30 days. Call your insurer now and follow up in writing.
Look for cameras
Businesses, homes, buses and doorbell cameras near the scene. Footage is often overwritten within days.
Write down everything
Partial plate, color, make, damage on the other car, direction it went, and the names of anyone who stopped.
Who pays
You may have more coverage than you think
When the driver is never found, your own uninsured motorist coverage, a household member's policy, medical payments coverage, health insurance and the California Victim Compensation Board can all play a part. How UM coverage works after a hit-and-run explains the rules.
Case review
5 quick questions
About a minute. Not a law firm. Submitting this form does not create an attorney-client relationship. Your information may be shared with participating attorneys who may contact you.
Se habla español — Spanish-speaking staff available at the sponsoring firm, Apollo Law Group.
Guides
Start with these
Hit-and-run in California: the law and what victims should doWhat the law requires of drivers, and the steps that give you the best chance of identifying the one who left.Read the guide
Uninsured motorist claims after a hit-and-runYour own policy can stand in for the driver who left, but only if you meet its strict conditions.Read the guide
Hit by a car while walking or biking in LA, and the driver leftWalking or riding, you may still be covered by an auto policy, and California has a fund for crime victims.Read the guideFAQ
Frequently asked questions
- What should I do after a hit-and-run?
- Get to safety, call 911 and get medical care. Write down anything you remember about the vehicle (color, make, partial plate, direction), take photos, and ask nearby businesses and witnesses about video. Report it to the police as soon as possible.
- Who pays for my injuries if the driver is never found?
- Your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage can pay for injuries caused by an unidentified hit-and-run driver. For that coverage, California requires physical contact with the hit-and-run vehicle, a report to the police, sheriff or CHP within 24 hours, and a written statement under oath to your insurer within 30 days after that (Insurance Code 11580.2(b)(1)).
- I was walking or biking and don't own a car. Is there coverage?
- Often, yes. California uninsured motorist coverage generally protects the policyholder, a spouse and relatives who live in the same household, including when they are walking or biking rather than riding in a car (Insurance Code 11580.2(b)). The exact policy language controls, so gather every auto policy in your household.
- Is there a deadline for an uninsured motorist claim?
- Yes. Besides the 24-hour police report and 30-day insurer notice, within two years of the accident you generally must either settle the claim, file suit against the at-fault driver, or formally start arbitration with your insurer (Insurance Code 11580.2(i)).
- What if the police find the driver?
- Then you may be able to bring a claim against that driver and their insurance, in addition to any UM coverage. Leaving the scene of an injury crash is a crime in California (Vehicle Code 20001), and a criminal court may order restitution, but a civil claim is separate.
- Can I get help with medical bills right away?
- Medical payments (MedPay) coverage on your auto policy, if you have it, and your health insurance can help with bills while a claim is pending. Victims of crimes, including hit-and-run crashes that cause injury, may also apply to the California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB), which can help with some costs that insurance does not cover.
- How long do I have to sue?
- A lawsuit against an identified driver for injuries is generally due within two years (Code of Civil Procedure 335.1). Uninsured motorist claims follow the separate insurance deadlines above.
General information about California law, not legal advice.
More on LawyersTrend
Hit-and-run crashes on LawyersTrend
lahitandrunlawyer.com is a LawyersTrend site. It covers one area of law; the full directory, rankings and lien-doctor listings live on lawyerstrend.com.