Injured in a Hit-and-Run in California?

A car accident is stressful enough. When the driver who caused the crash leaves the scene, the situation can become even more frustrating and confusing. A California hit-and-run can leave you dealing with injuries, medical bills, vehicle damage, lost income, and unanswered questions about who will pay for your losses.

If you were injured in a hit-and-run accident, you may still have legal options—even if the other driver is never identified.

At Sodhi Law Group, we help individuals and families throughout Modesto, Stockton, Sacramento, Tracy, Turlock, Manteca, and surrounding Central Valley communities understand their rights after serious accidents. Our personal injury attorneys can investigate the circumstances of your crash, evaluate available insurance coverage, and help pursue compensation for your injuries and losses.

What Is a Hit-and-Run Accident in California?

A hit-and-run occurs when a driver involved in an accident leaves the scene without stopping and fulfilling their legal responsibilities.

A hit-and-run may involve:

• A collision with another vehicle
• A pedestrian accident
• A bicycle accident
• A motorcycle accident
• Damage to a parked vehicle
• Property damage
• A crash resulting in serious personal injuries

The driver may leave because they are uninsured, have a suspended license, are afraid of being arrested, or simply do not want to accept responsibility for the accident.

Regardless of why the driver leaves, you should take the situation seriously and document everything you can.

What Should You Do After a California Hit-and-Run?

Your first priority should always be your safety and medical needs.

If you have been injured, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Some accident injuries—including whiplash, soft-tissue injuries, concussions, and internal injuries—may not be immediately obvious.

You should also report the accident to law enforcement. California’s Department of Insurance recommends documenting accident information and notifying the appropriate authorities and your insurance company following a collision.

If it is safe to do so, gather as much information as possible, including:

• The other vehicle’s make, model, color, and license plate number
• A description of the driver
• The direction the vehicle was traveling
• The location and time of the accident
• Photographs of your vehicle and the accident scene
• Photographs of visible injuries
• Names and contact information for witnesses
• Nearby businesses or homes that may have security cameras
• Police report information

Even a partial license plate number or a basic description of the vehicle could potentially help investigators identify the driver.

What If the Hit-and-Run Driver Is Never Found?

One of the biggest concerns after a hit-and-run is figuring out how you can recover compensation when there is no identified driver.

This is where your own automobile insurance coverage may become extremely important.

California insurance policies may include uninsured motorist coverage, commonly called UM coverage. According to the California Department of Insurance, uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage can provide protection when you are injured in an accident involving an uninsured driver who is at fault. Underinsured motorist coverage can also apply when the responsible driver’s insurance is insufficient to cover your damages.

Depending on the circumstances and your policy, uninsured motorist coverage may provide an avenue for pursuing compensation after a hit-and-run.

However, insurance claims involving unidentified drivers can involve specific requirements and deadlines. California law contains requirements concerning police reporting and notice to an insurer in certain uninsured-motorist situations.

That is one reason it can be valuable to speak with a California personal injury attorney before assuming you have no options.

What Compensation May Be Available?

The amount and types of compensation available depend on the circumstances of the accident, your injuries, your insurance coverage, and other factors.

Potential damages in a personal injury claim may include:

• Emergency medical treatment
• Hospital bills
• Doctor visits
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Prescription medications
• Future medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Long-term disability
• Disfigurement

Sodhi Law Group’s personal injury practice focuses on helping accident victims pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other damages resulting from an injury.

Don’t Assume Your Insurance Company Is Automatically on Your Side

After a hit-and-run, you may have to work with your own insurance company because the at-fault driver cannot be located.

That does not necessarily mean the claims process will be simple.

Insurance companies have an obligation to evaluate covered claims, but disagreements can arise over the cause of an accident, the extent of injuries, available coverage, medical treatment, and the value of a claim.

Sodhi Law Group can help review the circumstances surrounding your accident and available insurance coverage. The firm works to investigate accidents, gather evidence, review medical documentation, calculate damages, negotiate with insurance companies, and pursue litigation when necessary.

Having an attorney involved can also help you avoid making statements or accepting a settlement before you fully understand the potential value of your claim.

Evidence Can Be Especially Important in Hit-and-Run Cases

Hit-and-run cases can present a unique challenge: the person who caused the accident may not be available to provide information or accept responsibility.

Evidence can therefore become critical.

Depending on the circumstances, an investigation may involve reviewing:

• Police reports
• Photographs and video
• Traffic-camera footage
• Business surveillance footage
• Witness statements
• Vehicle damage
• Accident-scene evidence
• Medical records
• Insurance policies
• Vehicle identification information

The sooner evidence is identified and preserved, the better. Surveillance footage, for example, may not be retained indefinitely.

An experienced personal injury attorney can help determine what evidence may be important and how it can support your claim.

How Sodhi Law Group Can Help After a Hit-and-Run

If you were injured in a hit-and-run accident in Modesto, Stockton, Sacramento, or another Central Valley community, you do not necessarily have to navigate the process alone.

Sodhi Law Group has represented individuals, families, and businesses throughout California since 1999. The firm’s personal injury practice handles automobile collisions along with truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian and bicycle accidents, premises liability cases, and other injury matters.

The firm can help by:

Investigating the accident: Reviewing available evidence and helping determine what happened.

Evaluating insurance coverage: Examining available uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage and other potentially applicable policies.

Documenting your injuries: Gathering medical records and information regarding your treatment and recovery.

Calculating damages: Looking beyond immediate medical bills to consider lost income, future treatment, pain and suffering, and other losses.

Handling insurance negotiations: Communicating with insurance companies and advocating for your interests.

Pursuing litigation when appropriate: If a fair resolution cannot be reached through negotiations, Sodhi Law Group is prepared to pursue the matter through the legal process.

Injured in a Hit-and-Run? Don’t Wait to Learn Your Rights

A hit-and-run can leave you feeling like you have no way to hold the responsible driver accountable. But the fact that the driver left the scene does not automatically mean you have no potential path to compensation.

Your insurance coverage, the evidence surrounding the accident, the severity of your injuries, and the specific facts of your case can all matter.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a hit-and-run accident in Modesto, Stockton, Sacramento, Tracy, Turlock, Manteca, or throughout California’s Central Valley, consider speaking with an experienced personal injury attorney about your situation.

Sodhi Law Group can review your circumstances, explain your legal options, and help you understand the next steps.

Contact Sodhi Law Group at 209-900-8281 or visit SodhiLawGroup.com to learn more about California personal injury representation.

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every accident and insurance claim is different. Speaking with an attorney about your specific circumstances is the best way to understand your legal options.