Hit and Run Accidents in Los Angeles, California

Hit and Run Accidents in Los Angeles

Los Angeles consistently records among the highest hit and run collision rates in the United States — a product of the city's sprawling road network, high traffic density, and the concentrated presence of uninsured drivers in certain areas — leaving thousands of injured victims each year without an immediately identifiable at-fault party to pursue for compensation.

Hit and run incidents in Los Angeles span the full range of traffic environments. On high-speed freeways including the 405, 110, 10, and 101, sideswipe and rear-end collisions followed by driver flight are documented regularly, particularly during early-morning and late-night hours when traffic enforcement presence is reduced. On surface streets through neighborhoods including South LA, East LA, Boyle Heights, and the San Fernando Valley, pedestrians and cyclists bear a disproportionate share of hit and run injuries — where victims are struck and the driver continues without stopping to render aid.

The prevalence of dashcam cameras in the Los Angeles fleet — on private vehicles, Metro buses, and commercial trucks — has significantly increased the availability of footage that can identify fleeing vehicles. LAPD and the California Highway Patrol actively use surveillance footage from nearby businesses, traffic cameras operated by LADOT's Automated Traffic Surveillance and Control (ATSAC) system, and witness-provided video to investigate hit and run collisions. Injured victims and their attorneys can send preservation demands for this footage immediately after a crash, before overwrite cycles eliminate the recording.

For victims injured by drivers who flee the scene, the practical path to compensation typically runs through one of three channels: (1) the victim's own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage if the driver is never identified; (2) a direct liability claim against the driver if law enforcement subsequently identifies them; or (3) claims against third parties — property owners, road maintenance agencies, or other contributing parties — whose negligence may have contributed to the collision even if the fleeing driver was the primary cause.

The emotional and practical burden of a hit and run is compounded by the uncertainty of recovery. Los Angeles hit and run investigations are handled by the Traffic Coordination Section (TCS) of the LAPD for incidents within city limits, and by CHP district offices for incidents on state highways within the county. Injured victims may follow up on investigation status by contacting the relevant agency with the DR (division/report) number assigned at the scene.

California Law That Applies to Your Case

California law imposes both criminal penalties on drivers who flee the scene of an accident and statutory obligations on insurers to provide compensation to victims of unidentified drivers. These two bodies of law operate in parallel and both affect the remedies available to injured parties.

The criminal prohibition on leaving the scene of a collision is found in the California Vehicle Code. Cal. Veh. Code § 20001 makes it a felony for a driver involved in a collision resulting in injury or death to fail to stop immediately, identify themselves to law enforcement or to injured parties, and render reasonable assistance. The penalty for a felony hit and run under § 20001 can include state prison time and license revocation. Cal. Veh. Code § 20002 addresses property-damage-only collisions and is a misdemeanor. A criminal conviction does not automatically entitle the victim to civil damages — a separate civil action is required — but a plea or conviction can constitute evidence in the civil proceeding.

For civil recovery, California's uninsured motorist (UM) statute — Cal. Ins. Code § 11580.2 — requires insurers offering automobile policies in California to include uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage at minimum mandatory liability limits, unless the policyholder declines in writing. For hit and run collisions where the at-fault driver cannot be identified, UM coverage functions as the injured party's primary compensation vehicle. California law generally requires that physical contact between the hit and run vehicle and the victim's vehicle (or the victim themselves) occurred before UM coverage applies — policies vary on exact contact requirements.

California's pure comparative fault doctrine applies if the at-fault driver is later identified and a civil lawsuit is filed. The injured party's damages are reduced in proportion to any fault attributed to them, but recovery is not barred even if the injured party was partially at fault.

Courts and Procedures in Los Angeles

Civil cases arising from Los Angeles hit and run accidents — whether against an identified driver or a UM insurer — are filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court. Cases involving significant personal injury are filed as unlimited civil actions at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse or the district courthouse for the location of the collision.

When the at-fault driver remains unidentified, the civil proceeding takes the form of an uninsured motorist arbitration or lawsuit against the injured party's own insurer rather than a third-party action. California law gives policyholders the right to demand arbitration of UM disputes with their insurers under Insurance Code § 11580.2. UM arbitrations in California typically proceed before a single neutral arbitrator and can resolve more quickly than full civil litigation, though the arbitration process and rules vary by policy and insurer.

If the at-fault driver is identified after the fact — through a tip, investigation, or video evidence reviewed after the collision — the injured party may file a direct negligence action in Los Angeles Superior Court within the two-year limitations period. These cases proceed like any other vehicle collision negligence case, with the added factual background of the criminal flight from the scene, which may be admissible as evidence of consciousness of guilt or recklessness.

Defendants identified after a hit and run frequently lack adequate insurance — which is often the reason they fled in the first place. Experienced California attorneys regularly evaluate all potential sources of recovery in hit and run cases, including the victim's own UM and UIM coverage, MedPay coverage, health insurance, and any third-party claims against road maintenance agencies or other contributing parties.

What to Do After a Hit and Run in Los Angeles

1. Call 911 immediately. Report the collision, your location, and the direction the fleeing vehicle traveled. Emergency responders can begin medical triage and law enforcement can dispatch units to search for the fleeing vehicle. Do not attempt to pursue the driver yourself — doing so creates additional safety risk.
2. Record everything you remember about the vehicle. As soon as it is safe to do so, write down every detail you can recall about the vehicle that fled — license plate (partial or complete), make, model, color, any distinctive features, the direction of travel, and any description of the driver visible to you. Even partial information can assist law enforcement.
3. Canvas for witnesses and ask for their recordings. Ask anyone in the vicinity whether they witnessed the collision or have dashcam, phone, or other video recordings. Nearby businesses may have surveillance cameras that captured the incident or the fleeing vehicle. Collect contact information for all witnesses.
4. Document the scene and your injuries. Photograph your vehicle damage, the road, skid marks, debris field, traffic signals, and your injuries. Note the exact time and location. Photograph any nearby businesses that may have surveillance cameras.
5. Obtain a police report and your DR number. Insist that a full collision report be filed, even if the officer suggests a report is not necessary. Obtain the DR (division/report) number — it is required for most UM insurance claims involving an unknown driver. You can follow up on the investigation status with LAPD Traffic Coordination Section using this number.
6. Notify your own auto insurance carrier promptly. Report the collision to your own insurer as soon as possible and ask about uninsured motorist coverage under your policy. Review your policy for any claim-filing time limits that are shorter than the statutory two-year period. UM claims must be submitted promptly to preserve coverage.
7. Consult a licensed California attorney as soon as possible. Evidence from surveillance cameras, traffic systems, and witnesses dissipates rapidly after a hit and run. An attorney can send preservation letters to LADOT, nearby businesses, and other potential evidence custodians within days of the crash. An attorney can also evaluate all available sources of compensation — including UM coverage, MedPay, and third-party claims — and ensure all deadlines under your policy and California law are met.