Hit and Run Accident Lawyer in Los Angeles
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Los Angeles hit and run accident lawyer: quick answers
Who handles hit and run accident cases at B&D Law Group in Los Angeles?
B&D Law Group, APLC is a personal injury firm with its main office at 10700 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90025. We handle hit-and-run injury claims across Los Angeles County and California. Call (888) 977-2238 for a free case review.
Can I get compensation if the hit-and-run driver is never found?
Often yes, through your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. Insurance Code 11580.2 requires physical contact with the other vehicle, a police report within 24 hours and a sworn statement to your insurer within 30 days.
What happens if police catch the driver?
You can claim against the driver and their insurance within two years (Code of Civil Procedure 335.1). If the driver is convicted, the court must order restitution for economic losses such as medical bills and lost wages (Penal Code 1202.4).
Is leaving the scene of an injury crash a crime?
Yes. The driver must stop, give their information and help anyone hurt (Vehicle Code 20001, 20003). Penalties include up to a year in county jail or a prison term and a fine of $1,000 to $10,000.
What does it cost to hire B&D?
The case review is free. We work on contingency, so there is no attorney fee unless we recover for you.
Statutes and program rules checked November 10, 2026. General information, not legal advice about your case. B&D Law Group, APLC, Los Angeles, California.
Being hit by a driver who drives away leaves you with injuries and no one to send the bill to. In California, there is often still a way to be compensated, but some of the deadlines are much shorter than the usual two years. Here is what the law requires and what to do now.
Leaving the scene is a crime in California
A driver involved in a crash that injures or kills someone must immediately stop at the scene, give their name, address, registration and vehicle owner information, and provide reasonable assistance to anyone hurt, including arranging transport for medical treatment when it is needed or requested (Vehicle Code 20001, 20003). Fleeing an injury crash can be punished by up to a year in county jail or a prison term, a fine of $1,000 to $10,000, or both. If the crash causes death or permanent, serious injury, the possible prison term is 2, 3 or 4 years. Leaving after damaging only property is a misdemeanor under Vehicle Code 20002.
If the driver is never found: your uninsured motorist coverage
California treats a vehicle whose owner and driver cannot be identified as an uninsured vehicle, so your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage can pay. But Insurance Code 11580.2 sets conditions that catch many people off guard:
- Physical contact. The injury must arise from physical contact between the hit-and-run vehicle and you or the vehicle you were in.
- Report within 24 hours. The crash must be reported within 24 hours to the police department of the city where it happened, or to the sheriff or CHP in unincorporated areas.
- Sworn statement within 30 days. Within 30 days after that, you must file a statement under oath with your insurer that you have a claim against someone whose identity cannot be found.
- Two-year rule for UM claims. Within two years of the accident, you must file suit against the uninsured driver, reach an agreement with your insurer, or formally demand arbitration by certified mail. If you and your insurer disagree on fault or the amount, the dispute goes to arbitration before a neutral arbitrator.
If the driver is caught
If police identify the driver, you can pursue a claim against that driver and their insurance like any other crash, within the two-year deadline in Code of Civil Procedure 335.1. If the driver is convicted, the criminal court must order restitution for the victim’s economic losses, such as medical bills and lost wages, under Penal Code 1202.4. Restitution depends on a conviction and does not cover pain and suffering, so a civil claim is still important.
Help from the state for crime victims
The California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB) lists hit and run among the crimes it covers. It can help with expenses that no other source will pay, if you cooperate with police and prosecutors. Applications are generally due within seven years of the crime (CalVCB eligibility).
What to do in the first days
- Call 911 and get medical care. Write down anything you remember about the car: color, make, plate characters, damage, direction of travel.
- Make sure a police report is made within 24 hours, and get the report number.
- Notify your own insurer promptly and keep the 30-day sworn statement deadline in mind.
- Ask nearby homes and businesses about cameras quickly; footage is often recorded over within days.
Hit-and-run crashes often involve pedestrians and bicyclists. For a step-by-step checklist, see what to do after a hit-and-run accident in California. If you were struck from behind, see our rear end accident page. If a city or county road condition played a part, a claim against that agency generally must be filed within six months (Government Code 911.2).
Deadlines and fault rules that apply to every California injury claim
- Two years to file a lawsuit. Most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1.
- Six months for claims against a public agency. If a city, county or state agency may be responsible, for example because of a dangerous road condition or a government vehicle, a written claim generally must be presented within six months after the claim accrues under Government Code section 911.2. Missing that deadline can end the claim.
- Partly at fault does not mean no recovery. California uses pure comparative fault (Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804). If you share some of the blame, your compensation is reduced by your share rather than barred.
Talk to a B&D Law Group attorney
B&D Law Group, APLC represents people hurt in hit-and-run crashes throughout Los Angeles and California from our Los Angeles office at 10700 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90025. The consultation is free, and we handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee, which means no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you. Call (888) 977-2238 or send us your case details.
Attorney advertising. This page is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading this page or contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Agency procedures, fees and data on this page were checked against official sources in October 2026 and can change. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.