Legally Reviewed by Daniel Setareh on August 31, 2026
The shock of a car accident is bad enough, but when the person responsible for your injuries drives away without stopping, the situation becomes even more distressing. You’re left injured, confused, and wondering how you’ll recover compensation when you don’t even know who hit you. Hit and run accidents create unique challenges for injury victims, but California law provides several pathways to recovery even when the at-fault driver flees the scene.
Understanding your options after a hit and run accident helps you take the right steps to protect your health and your legal rights during this difficult time. At Setareh Law, we’ve helped countless California victims of hit and run collisions navigate the complex process of identifying responsible parties and pursuing compensation. Our team has recovered over $250 million for clients throughout the state, and we handle all cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you only pay attorney fees if we successfully recover compensation for your injuries.
Immediate Steps to Take After a Hit and Run
Your actions immediately after a hit and run accident significantly affect both your physical recovery and your ability to pursue compensation. First, ensure your safety and the safety of any passengers. If you can do so safely, move your vehicle out of traffic to prevent additional collisions. Call 911 to report the accident and request medical assistance if anyone is injured, even if injuries seem minor.
Try to gather as much information about the fleeing vehicle as possible. Note the license plate number if you saw it, even if you only caught part of it. Observe the vehicle’s make, model, color, and any distinguishing features like damage, bumper stickers, or custom modifications. Notice which direction the driver fled and whether you can describe the driver’s appearance, age, gender, or any passengers in the vehicle.
Look for witnesses who may have seen the collision or the fleeing vehicle. Other drivers, pedestrians, or people in nearby businesses might have observed details you missed. Get their names and contact information before they leave the scene. Check for security cameras on nearby buildings, traffic cameras, or dashboard cameras in other vehicles that might have captured the incident.
Take photographs of the accident scene including your vehicle damage, debris pattern, skid marks, and the surrounding area. These images preserve evidence that might disappear before police complete their investigation. Document your injuries with photographs as well, particularly visible wounds, bruises, or swelling.
How Law Enforcement Investigates Hit and Run Accidents
When police respond to hit and run reports, they gather all available evidence to identify the fleeing driver. Officers interview witnesses, collect physical evidence from the scene, and review any available video footage. They examine paint transfers on your vehicle that might identify the other car’s color and possibly its make and model. Accident reconstruction specialists can sometimes determine the fleeing vehicle’s likely trajectory based on debris patterns and impact angles.
Police enter partial license plate information and vehicle descriptions into databases to generate lists of possible matches. They contact auto body shops in the area asking about recent repairs matching the damage profile. In serious hit and run cases involving significant injuries, law enforcement may issue public appeals for information or offer rewards for tips leading to the driver’s identification.
The California Highway Patrol and local law enforcement agencies increasingly use advanced technology including automatic license plate readers, traffic camera networks, and social media investigations to track down hit and run drivers. However, these investigations take time, and many hit and run drivers are never identified despite law enforcement’s best efforts.
Compensation Options When the Driver Isn’t Found
Even if police never identify the hit and run driver, you still have options for recovering compensation for your injuries and damages. Your own auto insurance policy may provide several types of coverage that apply to hit and run situations.
Uninsured motorist coverage is designed for situations where you’re injured by a driver who either lacks insurance or cannot be identified. In California, all auto insurance policies must include uninsured motorist coverage unless you specifically reject it in writing. This coverage pays for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages just as if you were pursuing a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance. Your uninsured motorist limits determine the maximum amount available for your personal injuries.
MedPay or medical payments coverage pays your medical bills regardless of fault and without requiring you to identify the other driver. This coverage typically has lower limits than uninsured motorist coverage but can provide immediate funds to cover emergency treatment, hospital stays, and initial medical care while you pursue other compensation sources.
Collision coverage repairs or replaces your damaged vehicle even when you cannot identify the at-fault driver. You pay your deductible, and your insurance company covers the remaining repair costs. Some policies include deductible waivers for hit and run accidents, eliminating your out-of-pocket expense.
Get Legal Help From Setareh Law After a Hit and Run
The attorneys at Setareh Law bring over 60 years of combined experience representing hit and run accident victims throughout California. We understand the frustration of being injured by someone who fled the scene, and we know how to navigate the complex process of pursuing compensation through your own insurance policy or identifying and holding fleeing drivers accountable. Our approach includes thoroughly investigating your accident to gather all available evidence, working with law enforcement to assist in identifying the responsible driver, pursuing all available insurance coverage including uninsured motorist benefits, and negotiating aggressively with insurance companies to maximize your compensation.
We maintain over 400 five-star reviews on Google because we provide personalized attention and keep clients informed throughout the process. Our firm operates eight office locations across California and offers home visits when your injuries make travel difficult. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your hit and run accident case and learn how we can help you pursue the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hit and Run Accidents in California
What should I do immediately after a hit and run accident in California?
Your safety comes first, so move to a safe location if you can and call 911 to report the accident and request medical help. Try to note the fleeing vehicle’s license plate, color, make, and model, and look for witnesses or nearby security cameras before they leave or the footage is lost. Photograph the scene, your vehicle damage, and your injuries. These details help police with their investigation and support any insurance claim you later file, even if the driver is never located.
How do police investigate a hit and run accident when the driver flees the scene?
Officers interview witnesses, collect physical evidence, and review any available video footage from nearby cameras or traffic systems. They examine paint transfers and vehicle debris for clues about the fleeing car’s make, model, and color, and enter partial license plate information into statewide databases to search for matches. In serious cases, agencies may issue public appeals for tips. These investigations take time, and many hit and run drivers are never identified despite these efforts, which is why insurance coverage matters.
What is uninsured motorist coverage, and how does it help after a hit and run?
Uninsured motorist coverage applies when the driver who caused your injuries cannot be identified or has no insurance, which is common in hit and run cases. California requires this coverage on every auto policy unless you rejected it in writing, and it pays for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages much like a claim against an at-fault driver’s insurer would. Your policy limits set the maximum amount available, so it is worth reviewing your coverage before you need it.
Does MedPay cover my medical bills after a hit and run accident?
Medical payments coverage, often called MedPay, pays your medical bills regardless of who was at fault and without requiring you to identify the other driver. It typically carries lower limits than uninsured motorist coverage, but it can provide fast funds for emergency treatment, hospital stays, and initial care while you pursue other compensation sources. Because MedPay applies before fault is determined, it is often one of the first coverages victims can access after a hit and run.
Will my collision coverage pay for vehicle repairs if the driver is never found?
Collision coverage can repair or replace your vehicle even when the at-fault driver is never identified. You pay your deductible, and your insurer covers the remaining repair costs, though some policies waive the deductible specifically for hit and run claims. This coverage addresses only vehicle damage, not injuries, so it typically works alongside uninsured motorist or MedPay coverage to address the full scope of your losses after the collision.
Is a hit and run always a criminal offense in California?
Yes. Under California Vehicle Code sections 20001 and 20002, leaving the scene of an accident without stopping is a crime whether or not anyone was hurt. A hit and run involving only property damage is typically charged as a misdemeanor, while one involving injury or death can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. These are criminal charges pursued separately from any civil claim for compensation you may pursue for your injuries.
What happens if the fleeing driver is identified after my insurance claim has already settled?
If your insurer already paid your uninsured motorist claim, it generally has the right to pursue the identified driver directly for reimbursement through a process called subrogation. Depending on how your settlement was structured, you may also retain rights to pursue the driver for losses your policy did not cover, such as amounts above your coverage limits. Because these situations vary, it is worth having an attorney review your settlement paperwork before a driver is identified, whenever possible.
ABOUT THE ATTORNEY
Attorney, Setareh Law
Daniel Setareh represents California accident victims at Setareh Law, which has recovered over $250 million for clients across the state.
