Los Angeles's Hit-and-Run Epidemic

Los Angeles has earned a grim reputation as a hit-and-run capital. The City of Los Angeles consistently records more hit-and-run accidents annually than any other major American city. According to LAPD traffic statistics, Los Angeles experiences roughly 20,000 hit-and-run collisions per year — a staggering figure that represents approximately three hit-and-run crashes every hour of every day. Fatal hit-and-runs have increased in recent years, with South Los Angeles, East LA, and the San Fernando Valley bearing a disproportionate share of the incidents.

The epidemic is driven by several LA-specific factors: high rates of uninsured drivers (approximately 16% of California drivers carry no insurance), fear of immigration consequences, outstanding warrants driving drivers to flee, and the sheer anonymity of a sprawling metro area with hundreds of unmonitored roads. For victims, the question is never whether justice is deserved — it's how to recover compensation when the responsible party has fled.

California Vehicle Code 20001 and 20002 — What the Law Says

California imposes serious criminal penalties on drivers who flee accident scenes:

When LAPD or the DA's office files criminal charges, the criminal proceedings create a parallel track that often strengthens your civil case. A guilty plea or conviction for CVC §20001 is admissible in your civil proceeding as evidence of negligence.

Immediate Steps After a Los Angeles Hit and Run

  1. Stay at the scene and call 911. An LAPD report is required for UM/UIM insurance claims. Without a police report, most insurers will deny or significantly limit your claim.
  2. Capture everything about the fleeing vehicle. Even partial information is valuable: color, body style (sedan/SUV/truck), approximate year, any distinctive markings, damage patterns, direction of travel. A partial license plate — even two or three characters — can narrow LAPD's search significantly.
  3. Identify surveillance cameras immediately. Look for cameras on nearby businesses, traffic signals (LADOT operates over 40,000 traffic cameras), ATMs, doorbells, and parking structures. These recordings often overwrite within 24–72 hours. Your attorney will immediately issue preservation letters.
  4. Canvass for witnesses before they leave. People at bus stops, pedestrians, and nearby store employees are your best witnesses. Get names and phone numbers on the spot.
  5. File the LAPD report promptly. For non-injury property-damage hits, you can file at any LAPD division. For injury accidents, insist on an on-scene response. You can also file at your nearest LAPD division or online for minor property-only incidents.
  6. Notify your own insurer — but don't give a recorded statement yet. Prompt notification is required by most policies. But your insurer's adjuster is not your advocate. Talk to an attorney first.

⚠️ Physical Contact Requirement for UM Claims: California's uninsured motorist statutes generally require physical contact between the fleeing vehicle and your vehicle (or your body) for a UM claim to be valid. Pure "phantom vehicle" scenarios — where a car cuts you off causing you to crash without contact — are treated differently under most California UM policies. An attorney can evaluate your policy language and the specific facts of your collision.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage — Your Primary Recovery Path

When the hit-and-run driver is never found, your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage becomes your primary source of compensation. Under California Insurance Code §11580.2, all California auto insurers are required to offer UM/UIM coverage to their policyholders. If you purchased this coverage, you can file a UM claim against your own policy as if the unidentified driver was an insured defendant.

What UM Coverage Pays

California UM coverage can compensate you for:

Standard California minimum UM coverage has historically been $15,000/$30,000, though many policies carry higher limits. If your damages exceed your UM limits and the at-fault driver is later identified and has insurance, your underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage may provide additional recovery.

Dealing With Your Own Insurer in UM Claims

A critical misconception: your own insurer is your adversary in a UM claim. The same company that collected your premiums for years will now act as the defendant and will send adjusters whose goal is to minimize what they pay you. California bad faith insurance law (Ins. Code §790.03) provides remedies if your insurer unreasonably delays or denies a valid UM claim, but protecting your rights requires an experienced advocate.

When the Driver Is Identified — Pursuing Full Civil Damages

LAPD identifies hit-and-run drivers in a meaningful percentage of cases — through license plate databases, surveillance footage, witness tips, and social media. When the driver is found, you can pursue a full civil personal injury claim directly against them and their insurer. If the driver is uninsured (as most hit-and-run drivers are), your attorney can pursue their personal assets and seek a civil judgment.

Hit-and-run cases also carry potential for punitive damages under California Civil Code §3294. Leaving an injured person at the scene is the kind of conscious disregard for human safety that courts have found supports punitive damage awards.

Hit and Run Victim in Los Angeles? Call Now.

InjuryAllies handles hit-and-run cases throughout LA County — UM claims, driver identification investigations, and full civil litigation when the driver is found. Free consultation. No fee unless we win.

✆ (323) 372-1216 — Call Now Contact Us Online

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Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is formed by reading this content. Every case is different; past results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Contact a licensed California personal injury attorney to discuss the specific facts of your situation.