Trusted hit and run attorneys with over 42 years of personal injury experience in California.

If you were struck by a driver who fled the scene in the San Fernando Valley, you are already dealing with physical injuries and stressing with how to recoup your losses. Our San Fernando Valley, CA hit and run lawyer at Goldberg Injury Lawyers has been handling these cases for over four decades, and we know exactly how California law applies when the at-fault driver disappears. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Hit and Run Attorney San Fernando Valley, CA

What does it mean to be a victim of a hit and run? Under California law, any driver involved in a collision that causes injury or death is legally required to stop, provide their information, and render reasonable aid. When a driver flees instead, they have committed a crime that can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the severity of harm caused.

For the victim, the legal question and situation is different. Your case is not about the driver’s criminal exposure, it is about how to get you compensation when the person who hurt you cannot be identified, refused to stay, or carried no insurance. California law provides multiple pathways to recovery in these situations. Knowing which avenues apply to your specific circumstances is exactly what a hit and run attorney in San Fernando Valley, CA can help you figure out.

Types of Hit and Run Cases We Handle in San Fernando Valley

Hit and run accidents happen in many ways across the San Fernando Valley, such as on the 101, on surface streets in Canoga Park, at intersections in Tarzana, or in parking lots in Northridge. Here are the most common scenarios our firm handles:

  • Car accidentst. A driver strikes your vehicle and speeds off before you can get their information. These cases often hinge on witness accounts, traffic camera footage, and your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage.
  • Pedestrian accidents. Pedestrians struck by fleeing drivers face some of the most serious injuries, including fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal trauma. These victims often have no way to identify the responsible vehicle without law enforcement assistance.
  • Bicycle accidents. Cyclists are particularly vulnerable to sustaining severe injuries if hit by a car. We handle cases involving cyclists injured in hit and run accidents, including claims under UM coverage even when the at-fault driver is never identified.
  • Motorcycle accidents. Riders who are sideswiped or forced off the road by a fleeing driver face severe injuries and complex insurance questions, particularly around UM coverage applicability.
  • Truck accidents. Commercial vehicles that leave the scene present unique recovery options, including claims against the carrier’s insurer and potential employer liability.
  • Wrongful death. When a family member is killed by a driver who flees, survivors may pursue a wrongful death claim under California law. These cases require swift action to preserve evidence and identify the responsible party.
  • Uninsured motorist claims. Many hit and run victims do not realize their own auto insurance policy may cover them through uninsured motorist coverage. We handle these claims and fight insurers who attempt to deny or minimize payment.
  • Parking lot and low-speed accidents. Not all hit and run accidents occur at high speed. Parking lot incidents involving property damage and minor injury carry their own legal considerations.

Hit And Run Infographic

Gathering Evidence For A Hit And Run Accident Infographic

Why Choose Goldberg Injury Lawyers for Hit and Run Cases in San Fernando Valley, CA?

42 Years of Personal Injury Experience in California

Barry P. Goldberg founded Goldberg Injury Lawyers in 2005 after spending 17 years practicing personal injury in Beverly Hills. He has been licensed in California since 1984, graduating from Loyola Law School Los Angeles and earning his undergraduate degree from UCLA. He has handled hundreds of trials, arbitrations, and mediations across the state. He is admitted to practice before all California state courts, the federal district courts, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.

For a personal injury lawyer in San Fernando Valley, CA, having depth of experience is influential to case outcomes. Hit and run cases may require uninsured motorist arbitration. Attorney Barry is widely recognized in California legal circles as a leading authority on UM/UIM law, a designation that has earned him the nickname “The UM Guru” among fellow attorneys, who regularly consult with him on legal matters.

Results That Matter

Our firm has recovered millions of dollars for clients injured with brain injuries, spinal injuries, fractures, and other serious harm. For a hit and run victim in San Fernando Valley, CA, those results are what matter in their recovery. We represent personal injury clients on a contingency basis, so this means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

Understanding Hit and Run Cases in San Fernando Valley, CA

Damages, Liability, and Compensation

When a driver flees after an accident, your recovery options depend heavily on what can be established about the collision and what insurance coverage is available. Potential damages in these cases include:

  • Medical expenses, both current and future
  • Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Property damage
  • Wrongful death damages, where applicable

Liability in a hit and run case can flow from multiple sources, the fleeing driver if identified, your own UM insurer, or a third party such as an employer if the escaping driver was on the job. California’s pure comparative fault system means your compensation can be reduced by any percentage of fault attributed to you, but it does not bar recovery entirely.

Important Aspects of Your Hit and Run Case

While every hit and run case is different, certain elements carry weight across nearly all of them.

  • The police report. This is not the final word on liability, but often the first document your insurer and any opposing party will reference. Filing a police report promptly also satisfies notice requirements for UM claims.
  • Medical documentation. Delays in treatment create openings for insurers to argue your injuries were not serious or were unrelated to the accident. Seek care immediately, even if you feel uncertain about the extent of your injuries.
  • Witness statements. Independent bystanders who saw the vehicle, the collision, or the driver fleeing can be critical when the at-fault party cannot be identified.
  • Photographs, dashcam footage, and surveillance video. We can help you gather video from the scene, such as from traffic cameras or nearby businesses, and dashcam recordings from other vehicles that have footage that identifies the fleeing driver or vehicle.
  • Your own insurer’s approach. In hit and run cases, you are often making a claim against your own insurance company through your UM coverage. Do not assume your insurer is on your side.

Hit and Run Case Timeline

The process following a hit and run in the San Fernando Valley typically unfolds in the following stages:

  • Accident and immediate steps: Report to police, seek medical care, notify your insurer
  • Investigation and evidence gathering: Law enforcement investigation, traffic camera review, witness statements
  • UM claim or third-party claim: Filing with your insurer or against the identified at-fault driver’s insurer
  • Negotiation: Presenting your damages and negotiating a fair settlement
  • Arbitration or litigation: If the insurer disputes the claim, UM cases typically proceed to arbitration, and third-party claims may go to trial
  • Resolution: Settlement or award

What to Bring to Your Consultation

Bring whatever you have gathered, and do not worry if it seems like less than what we need. A free consultation at Goldberg Injury Lawyers helps us assess what is available regardless of where you are in the process. Useful materials include:

  • A copy of the police report, if one was filed
  • Photos of the accident scene, your vehicle, or your injuries
  • Any witness contact information you collected
  • Your auto insurance policy, particularly any UM/UIM endorsements
  • Medical records or bills related to the accident

You will leave the consultation with a clear understanding of your options and an honest assessment of your case, and a decision of whether to move forward.

California Legal Resources for Hit and Run Cases

California law governing hit and run accidents touches several overlapping areas, including traffic law, insurance law, and civil procedure. Key statutes relevant to hit and run victims in the San Fernando Valley include:

Goldberg Injury Lawyers, San Fernando Valley Hit and Run Lawyer

5850 Canoga Ave. #206 Woodland Hills, CA 91367

Reach Out to Goldberg Injury Lawyers to Schedule a Consultation

If you were injured in a hit and run accident in the San Fernando Valley, do not wait. We can begin our own investigation of the accident to see if the responsible party can be identified. Contact Goldberg Injury Lawyers for a free consultation and let us review your options with you.