Hit and Run Lawyer Los Angeles | Accident Injury Claims

If you need a hit and run lawyer in Los Angeles, Mesriani Law Group is here to help. Being the victim of a hit and run accident is uniquely frustrating — you’ve been injured by someone who deliberately fled the scene, and you may not know who they are or how to get compensated.

The good news is that California law and your own insurance policy provide more pathways to compensation than most victims realize. Whether the at-fault driver is caught or never identified, our Los Angeles hit and run attorneys will fight to maximize every dollar of recovery available to you.

California Hit and Run Law: What You Need to Know

Under California Vehicle Code, every driver involved in an accident has a legal duty to stop, remain at the scene, and exchange information. For a full breakdown, see our guide on what is considered a hit and run in California: Leaving the scene is a criminal offense regardless of who was at fault:

• Misdemeanor hit and run (VC § 20002): Leaving the scene when the accident involved property damage only — to another vehicle, a fence, a parked car, or other property. Penalties include up to six months in county jail and fines up to $1,000.
• Felony hit and run (VC § 20001): Leaving the scene when someone was injured or killed. This is a felony carrying potential state prison time of two to four years, fines up to $10,000, and restitution to the victim.

From a civil claim perspective, the fact that the at-fault driver committed a criminal hit and run significantly strengthens your case if they are identified. It is evidence of negligence and may support a claim for punitive damages in egregious cases.

How to Recover Compensation After a Hit and Run in Los Angeles

Your options for recovering compensation depend on whether the at-fault driver is identified. Our hit and run lawyers in Los Angeles will pursue every available avenue:

If the at-fault driver is identified

Once identified — through police investigation, traffic cameras, witness tips, or other means — you can file a claim directly against the driver’s auto insurance policy. You may also file a personal injury lawsuit against them directly, which may support claims for:

• Full medical expenses and future care
• Lost income and reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage
• Punitive damages if the circumstances were egregious

If the at-fault driver is never found

Your own insurance policy becomes the primary source of compensation. The specific coverages that apply depend on what you purchased:

• Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage — learn more about how uninsured motorist coverage works in California: Covers your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other personal injury damages caused by an unidentified hit and run driver. This is the most important coverage in a hit and run case. California requires insurers to offer UM coverage, though drivers may waive it in writing.
• Uninsured Motorist Property Damage (UMPD) coverage: Covers damage to your vehicle from an unidentified hit and run driver. Note: to make a UMPD claim for a hit and run, California generally requires that there be physical contact between the vehicles.
• Collision coverage: Covers vehicle damage regardless of fault and regardless of whether the other driver is identified. You would owe your deductible, but your insurer may waive it if the at-fault driver is identified.
• MedPay coverage: Covers immediate medical expenses for you and your passengers regardless of fault, without requiring you to establish liability.

Important: Insurance companies handling UM claims are still representing their own financial interests. They will attempt to minimize payouts just as a third-party insurer would. Our hit and run lawyers in Los Angeles will handle all communications with your insurer and fight for the maximum payout under your policy.

California’s Hit and Run Statute of Limitations

• Personal injury claims: Two years from the date of the accident under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1
• Property damage only: Three years from the date of the accident
• Wrongful death: Two years from the date of death
• DMV SR-1 report: If the accident caused injury, death, or property damage over $1,000, you are required to file a DMV SR-1 form within 10 days of the accident regardless of fault

Even if you don’t know who the driver was, the two-year statute of limitations still applies to your UM insurance claim. Contact a hit and run lawyer in Los Angeles as soon as possible — evidence from traffic cameras is often overwritten within days, and witness memories fade quickly.

What to Do After a Hit and Run Accident in Los Angeles

1. Stay safe — move to a safe location if possible without leaving the scene. Do not chase the fleeing vehicle.
2. Call 911 immediately — report the accident, request medical assistance if needed, and request police. A police report is critical for both criminal prosecution and your insurance claim.
3. Gather as much information as possible — license plate number (even partial), vehicle make, model, and color, direction the vehicle fled, and any identifying features of the driver.
4. Photograph everything — damage to your vehicle, your injuries, the crash location, skid marks, and any debris from the fleeing vehicle.
5. Get witness information — names and phone numbers of anyone who saw the accident or the fleeing vehicle.
6. Check for cameras — note any nearby traffic cameras, business security cameras, or residential cameras that may have captured the accident. Police can request this footage.
7. Seek medical care immediately — even if injuries appear minor. Internal injuries and concussions may not present symptoms right away, and a medical record establishes your injury timeline.
8. File the DMV SR-1 form — if the accident caused injury or property damage over $1,000, you must file this form with the DMV within 10 days. Your attorney can file on your behalf.
9. Notify your insurance company — report the accident promptly, but do not give a recorded statement without speaking to a lawyer first. See our guide on how to report a hit and run in California.
10. Contact Mesriani Law Group — our hit and run lawyers in Los Angeles will investigate the crash, work with law enforcement to identify the driver, preserve evidence, and fight for maximum compensation under every available claim.

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Hit and Run?

• Medical expenses: Emergency room treatment, hospitalization, surgery, and all related costs
• Future medical care: Ongoing treatment, physical therapy, and long-term care for permanent injuries
• Lost income: Wages lost during recovery and reduced future earning capacity for permanent injuries
• Pain and suffering: Physical pain, emotional distress, PTSD, and loss of enjoyment of life
• Property damage: Repair or replacement of your vehicle and personal property
• Wrongful death damages: Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship if a loved one was killed in a hit and run
• Punitive damages: If the at-fault driver is identified and the circumstances were egregious, courts may award punitive damages

Why You Need a Hit and Run Lawyer in Los Angeles

Hit and run cases are more complex than standard car accident claims for several reasons:

• Identifying the at-fault driver often requires investigative work that goes beyond what police can do alone — our attorneys work to obtain traffic camera footage, canvass for witnesses, and use available vehicle debris to assist identification
• UM insurance claims involve your own insurer, who still has financial incentives to minimize your payout and may challenge the extent of your injuries
• Coverage analysis is complex — determining which policies apply and in what order requires legal expertise
• The DMV SR-1 filing requirement and specific insurance claim procedures must be followed correctly to preserve your rights
• Timing is critical — traffic camera footage is often overwritten within 48–72 hours of an accident

Our hit and run lawyers in Los Angeles handle all of this from day one so that you can focus on your recovery.

Why Choose Mesriani Law Group as Your Hit and Run Lawyer in Los Angeles?

• Over 30 years representing hit and run victims and car accident victims in Los Angeles and throughout California
• Hundreds of millions of dollars recovered for clients
• Experience navigating UM claims, fighting insurer tactics, and identifying at-fault drivers
• No Win, No Fee — you pay nothing unless we win your case
• Available 24/7 in English, Spanish, and Farsi