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Los Angeles hit-and-run lawyer
Hit-and-run cases run on two parallel tracks: identification of the at-fault driver and uninsured-motorist coverage on your own auto policy under Insurance Code §11580.2.
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Why a hit-and-run case is its own framework
A hit-and-run is two cases simultaneously: a criminal-court case (the driver violated CVC §20001 by leaving the scene of an injury accident or CVC §20002 for property-damage hit-and-run) and a civil case for damages. The civil case proceeds even if the driver is never identified, through uninsured-motorist coverage on the plaintiff's own auto policy.
On identification, several routes work. LAPD or LASD traffic-detective work and any partial-plate or vehicle-description information from the plaintiff or witnesses. Surveillance-footage canvass — corner stores, ATMs, doorbell cameras, LADOT cameras — produces actionable identification in many cases. CrimeStoppers tip lines (LAPD CrimeStoppers at 213-485-2876, LA Regional CrimeStoppers at 800-222-TIPS) sometimes generate leads. DMV partial-match searches when a partial plate is available.
On insurance, Insurance Code §11580.2 requires every California auto policy to offer uninsured-motorist coverage, and most California drivers carry it. The UM coverage applies when the at-fault driver is unidentified or uninsured — a hit-and-run is the textbook UM case. The plaintiff is also typically covered under household auto policies as a "named insured" or "resident relative."
On the medical and damages side, hit-and-run cases follow the same analytic framework as any other collision case based on the plaintiff's injuries — the only difference is the recovery vehicle (UM coverage rather than the at-fault driver's policy).
Burg & Brock has handled hit-and-run cases out of every California office for two decades. The firm coordinates the identification work, UM coverage, and any third-party tort claims (against bars, employers if the driver was on the job, or vehicle manufacturers if a defect contributed) in parallel.
Your rights under California law
Hit-and-run cases run through California Vehicle Code criminal provisions, the Insurance Code uninsured-motorist framework, and standard negligence law.
Quintano v. Mercury Casualty Co. (1995) 11 Cal.4th 1049 controls the UM coverage framework when the at-fault vehicle is uninsured or unidentified. Howell v. Hamilton Meats & Provisions, Inc. (2011) 52 Cal.4th 541 governs medical-bill admissibility.
Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804 controls comparative fault. Cabral v. Ralphs Grocery Co. (2011) 51 Cal.4th 764 frames foreseeability for commercial-vehicle drivers in pedestrian and intersection-dense zones.
How Burg & Brock works your case
Hit-and-run cases proceed on parallel tracks: identification work to find the at-fault driver, and UM-coverage work on the plaintiff's own auto policy.
- Police-report and detective work. LAPD or LASD traffic-detective unit. Any partial-plate, vehicle-description, or witness information.
- Surveillance-footage canvass. Corner stores, ATMs, doorbell cameras, LADOT cameras. Retention windows are tight (7-60 days), so the canvass moves first.
- CrimeStoppers and tip lines. LAPD CrimeStoppers (213-485-2876), LA Regional CrimeStoppers (800-222-TIPS). Cash rewards sometimes generate identification.
- UM-coverage notification. Notify the plaintiff's UM carrier within the policy's notification window (typically 30 days). Late-notice can be coverage-defeating.
- Medical and damages workup. Standard catastrophic-injury or routine-injury workup based on plaintiff's injuries.
- Demand and arbitration or litigation. UM claims are typically resolved through binding arbitration per the policy. If the at-fault driver is identified, standard tort litigation follows.
Operational note: UM-coverage notification deadlines vary by carrier but are typically 30-90 days from the date of incident. Late notice is a defense to coverage. We file the formal UM-coverage notice within the first weeks.
Common hit-and-run profiles in Los Angeles
Pedestrian hit-and-run. Driver strikes pedestrian and flees. UM coverage on pedestrian's own auto policy.
Cyclist hit-and-run. Driver strikes cyclist and flees. UM coverage applies even though plaintiff was not in their vehicle.
Vehicle-versus-vehicle hit-and-run. Driver strikes another vehicle and flees the scene.
Parked-vehicle hit-and-run. Property-damage cases under CVC §20002. Unidentified-driver UM coverage applies if injury also occurred.
Phantom-vehicle cases. Driver did not physically contact plaintiff's vehicle but caused the crash. UM coverage requires corroborating evidence in California.
Sideswipe hit-and-run. Driver causes sideswipe and flees. Paint-transfer evidence sometimes identifies vehicle.
DUI hit-and-run. Driver flees because of intoxication. Punitive exposure when identified.
Commercial-vehicle hit-and-run. Truck or fleet vehicle flees the scene. Identification through DOT/MC numbers, fleet markings, and commercial-vehicle camera footage.
Rideshare hit-and-run. Uber or Lyft driver flees the scene. Platform-side trip data identifies the driver.
Hit-and-run with later self-report. Driver returns or self-reports days later. Civil case proceeds with the identified driver.
Common causes
- Driving under the influence in violation of CVC §23152 — primary motivation for fleeing.
- Driving without a valid license.
- Driving without insurance.
- Driving on a suspended or revoked license.
- Operating a stolen vehicle.
- Outstanding warrants — driver flees to avoid arrest.
- Panic — first-time-offender driver flees in panic.
- Distracted driving in violation of CVC §23123 — driver who fails to see the impact may also fail to stop.
Liability theories
Hit-and-run liability when the driver is identified typically reaches multiple defendants. The standard analysis includes:
- The at-fault driver — primary negligence under Civil Code §1714, the underlying Vehicle Code violation that caused the impact, and the additional CVC §20001/§20002 hit-and-run violation.
- The driver's employer if on the job — respondeat superior.
- The vehicle owner if the driver was operating with permission under CVC §17150.
- The plaintiff's UM carrier (when at-fault driver is unidentified or uninsured).
- Any platform (Uber, Lyft, Doordash) if the at-fault driver was working at the time.
Hit-and-run by itself can support punitive damages under Civil Code §3294 because flight from an injury scene is conduct that often demonstrates malice or conscious disregard. When combined with DUI, the punitive case is even stronger.
How damages break down
Economic damages on a hit-and-run case follow the same analytic framework as any other collision case — past medical (Howell), future medical care, lost earnings, lost earning capacity, household services. The recovery vehicle changes (UM coverage versus at-fault driver's policy) but the damages elements are identical.
Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium. UM-coverage limits cap the recovery; serious cases sometimes exhaust UM and require pursuit of the identified driver's personal assets.
Punitive damages under Civil Code §3294 are typically available when the driver is identified — the act of fleeing alone often supports clear-and-convincing-evidence findings of malice. UM coverage does not pay punitives; punitives are recovered from the identified driver's personal assets.
Reported settlement and verdict ranges
| Case profile | Reported range | Drivers |
|---|
| Hit-and-run with soft-tissue injury, conservative treatment | $22,000 – $75,000 | UM coverage, soft-tissue medical course. |
| Hit-and-run with multiple fractures | $165,000 – $475,000 | UM-policy-limit cases; surgical course. |
| Hit-and-run with TBI | $385,000 – $1.4 million | UM-stack analysis; cognitive deficits. |
| Catastrophic hit-and-run injury | $950,000 – $4+ million | UM exhaustion; pursuit of identified driver's assets. |
| Wrongful-death hit-and-run | $1.4 million – $7+ million | CCP §377.60 heirs; UM-stack and identified-driver assets. |
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Each case is evaluated on its own facts and applicable law.
Why work with Burg & Brock
Burg & Brock has worked hit-and-run cases through every identification route — surveillance canvass, CrimeStoppers, DMV searches, DOT-and-MC lookups for commercial vehicles, rideshare-platform trip-data subpoenas. The UM-coverage notification process is reflexive at this point.
The firm tries cases. UM carriers and identified-driver insurers settle differently with firms that have arbitrated and litigated comparable cases.
Contingency fee. Free consultation. Twenty-four-hour line.
Steps after a Los Angeles hit-and-run
- Get medical care first. ER evaluation. Document every injury at the first visit.
- Call 911 immediately. Police presence at the scene starts the LAPD/LASD investigation. Do not wait.
- Capture every detail you can about the fleeing vehicle. Color, make, model, partial plate, distinguishing features, direction of travel.
- Photograph the scene. Impact zone, your injuries, your vehicle's damage, paint transfer if any.
- Get witness contact info. Anyone who saw the vehicle or the impact.
- Notify your UM carrier within thirty days. Coverage requires timely notification. Get it on file early.
- Call a lawyer in the first ninety-six hours. Surveillance retention and CrimeStoppers leads are time-sensitive.
Where these cases are filed
UM cases proceed in arbitration per the policy unless the carrier waives. Identified-driver cases proceed in LA County Superior Court — Stanley Mosk Courthouse for unlimited civil.
Criminal proceedings against an identified hit-and-run driver run in parallel; we coordinate with the District Attorney's office to ensure restitution claims and the civil case do not conflict.
Frequently asked questions
What if the driver who hit me drove away?
Two parallel tracks. First, identification — LAPD/LASD detective work, surveillance-footage canvass, CrimeStoppers tip lines (213-485-2876 LAPD), DMV partial-plate searches, doorbell-camera and ATM-camera review. Second, your own uninsured-motorist coverage — under
Insurance Code §11580.2, your auto policy covers hit-and-run cases regardless of identification.
Do I have UM coverage?
Almost certainly, if you have any California auto insurance.
Insurance Code §11580.2 requires UM/UIM to be offered on every policy and to be selected by signature on declination. UM coverage typically follows the named insured and resident relatives — meaning it covers you even when you are walking, cycling, or riding in someone else's vehicle.
How much UM coverage do I have?
Check your declarations page. California minimum is 15/30/5 (15K bodily injury per person, 30K per accident, 5K property damage). Most policies are written at substantially higher limits — 100/300, 250/500, 500/1M, or 1M/1M for higher-net-worth households. Higher UM limits dramatically expand the recovery in serious cases.
Can I stack UM coverage from multiple policies?
Sometimes. California law has historically been restrictive on stacking, but household-policy aggregation is sometimes available. We analyze every household auto policy and any umbrella coverage at intake.
What is the deadline for filing a UM claim?
Two years from the date of injury under
CCP §335.1. Most policies also impose a notification deadline (typically 30-90 days) and a deadline for demanding arbitration. Late-notice defenses can be coverage-defeating; we file the formal notice early.
What is the difference between a felony and misdemeanor hit-and-run?
CVC §20001 is felony hit-and-run involving injury or death.
CVC §20002 is misdemeanor hit-and-run involving property damage only. The driver in either case has a duty to stop, provide identification, render aid, and report to law enforcement under CVC §20003.
Is the criminal case the same as my civil case?
No, they are separate. The criminal case is brought by the District Attorney and seeks fine, jail, and restitution. The civil case is brought by you and seeks compensatory and punitive damages. The criminal conviction is admissible in the civil case but does not bar it; restitution from the criminal court can offset civil damages but does not bar the civil case.
Can I get punitive damages on a hit-and-run case?
Often, yes. Flight from the scene of an injury accident is conduct that supports clear-and-convincing-evidence findings of malice under
Civil Code §3294. Punitive damages are recovered from the identified driver's personal assets, not from UM coverage.
What if the driver was DUI?
Punitive exposure increases. The criminal DUI conviction is admissible. The case typically resolves at higher value than a non-DUI hit-and-run.
What if the at-fault driver was working — Uber, delivery, employee?
The platform or employer is on the policy stack under respondeat superior. Commercial coverage often dwarfs personal-policy limits. Identification of the driver opens this recovery route.
How long does a hit-and-run case take?
UM cases typically resolve in twelve to twenty-four months. Identified-driver cases follow standard tort timelines (twelve to thirty months). Catastrophic cases run longer.
How much does Burg & Brock charge?
Nothing up front. Contingency fee. Case costs (investigators, surveillance retrieval, depositions) advanced by the firm.
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Talk to a Burg & Brock attorney today
No fee unless we recover. Free consultation. Seven California offices, including Sherman Oaks (HQ), Glendale, Beverly Hills, Irvine, Bakersfield, Visalia, and Modesto.
Call (888) 528-8595
Burg & Brock office locations: Sherman Oaks (HQ) — 4554 Sherman Oaks Avenue, Unit A100, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 · Glendale — 633 N. Central Avenue, Suite 200, Glendale, CA 91203 · Beverly Hills — 9701 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1000, Beverly Hills, CA 90212 · Irvine — 7545 Irvine Center Drive, Suite 200, Irvine, CA 92618 · Bakersfield — 4900 California Avenue, Tower B, 2nd Floor, Bakersfield, CA 93309 · Visalia — 2300 W Whitendale Avenue, Visalia, CA 93277 · Modesto — 1015 12th Street, Suite 4, Modesto, CA 95354. Phone: (888) 528-8595.
