Hit and Run Car Accidents in Los Angeles

Under California state law, everyone who ends up involved in any kind of traffic collision is required to stop at the scene, make sure everyone else involved is okay, call emergency medical services if needed, and provide contact and insurance information to both other involved parties and responding police officers before leaving the scene. Anyone who fails to do any of these things has committed a “hit and run,” which could lead to them facing serious consequences in both criminal and civil court.

It goes without saying that being hurt in a hit and run car accident in Los Angeles is a uniquely upsetting experience, especially if you are not sure whether police will be able to find the person responsible for your wreck. With support from a an experienced car accident lawyer, you can handle this situation as effectively and proactively as possible and maximize your chances of receiving fair financial restitution.

Are Hit and Run Drivers Always Civilly Liable for Wrecks?

One important thing to understand about hit-and-run car crashes in Los Angeles is that the fact a “hit-and-run” occurred does not have any direct legal impact on a civil lawsuit built around that wreck. To recover compensation from a hit-and-run driver, an injured person still must prove that the other driver was directly and primarily responsible for causing the wreck in the first place through their own “negligence”—for example, running a red light or driving while distracted.

Civil courts and insurance companies rarely look favorably on people who break the law after being involved in car accidents, so it may be easier in practice to make the case that a hit and run driver is civilly liable for injuries in addition to criminally liable for their hit and run. Additionally, a skilled legal professional could help maximize available insurance payments from things like “uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage,” which can be a vital alternative to civil litigation in the event police cannot track down and identify a hit and run driver.

What to Expect from Our Legal Team

CD Law offers free initial consultations and operates on a contracted, “contingency” basis when we choose to take on a case, which does not require any client to pay anything upfront. Clients can meet with the team in person at our downtown office or easily on a Zoom call. Thereafter, the CD Law team conducts an extensive investigation and evidence gathering. The goal is negotiating a fair settlement with the person at fault for a Los Angeles hit-and-run car accident to hopefully save time and money by avoiding a court case.

If it does become necessary to get a court involved, our team will take the lead in formally filing a lawsuit, handling discovery and other pre-trial proceedings efficiently, and protecting our client’s rights and best interests during both out-of-court mediation and in-court hearings. In this scenario, our top priority will be ensuring you get the compensation you deserve by establishing before a civil jury and/or judge how severely you have been injured and what damages you need reimbursed for.

Contact a Los Angeles Attorney for Help With a Hit and Run Car Accident Lawsuit

Hit and run drivers can and should be held civilly accountable for any injury they cause someone else to sustain during their criminal act. Unfortunately, it is often far from easy to get a good outcome from a civil claim built around a hit and run car accident in Los Angeles, particularly if police cannot determine who to press charges against.

No matter what, though, hands-on and personable support from a seasoned auto accident lawyer significantly improves your chances of achieving a favorable case result. Learn more by calling CD Law today.