You feel panicked and worried after a hit and run accident, as you have no idea how to hold the liable motorist accountable for the incident since they already drove away. At this point, take a deep breath and try to remain calm. Call the police and, within days of the incident, reach out to a Los Angeles hit and run accident lawyer who can provide insights into your legal options.
The Omega Law Group Accident & Injury Attorneys team has recovered millions in damages for our clients. A car accident lawyer in Los Angeles is available to evaluate your case, explain what you can do to identify the motorist responsible for your collision, and help you request damages from this individual. Schedule a consultation with our legal team.
What to Do if You Are Involved in a Hit and Run
If possible, in the moments after your accident, move your car to a safe spot away from traffic. Do not leave the accident scene — if you do, the liable driver could ultimately claim you left the scene and try to hold you accountable for the collision. Use these tips to respond to your hit and run without putting yourself or others in danger:
- Ask for assistance. Dial 911, which will prompt medical personnel and police officers to arrive on the scene.
- Receive medical care. Let medical professionals evaluate your injuries and take you to a hospital if recommended.
- Speak to the police. Discuss the accident with police officers, and they can prepare a report detailing the incident.
- Jot down notes. Write down the make, model, and license plate of the other vehicle involved in your crash and other relevant collision information.
- Look for witnesses. Find any witnesses who saw your collision, as these individuals may be able to share information about the driver responsible for the incident and the vehicle they were driving.
- Collect visual proof. Take photos and videos of the accident scene and your injuries.
- Notify your insurance provider. After you tell your insurer about your accident, the business can open a claim in accordance with your insurance policy.
Omega Law Group can connect you with a Los Angeles hit and run accident attorney who will give your case the attention it deserves. Our personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles can learn about your collision and help you find the at-fault motorist. Request a consultation with our team.
Criminal Charges for People Involved in Hit and Run Crashes
California treats hit and run collisions as misdemeanors or felonies. If a motorist leaves an auto accident scene, they can face a misdemeanor charge or felony crime. The decision’s ramifications can impact this individual for many years to come.
If convicted of a misdemeanor for driving away from an auto crash, a motorist can receive a jail sentence of up to six months and fines of up to $1,000. Alternatively, with a felony conviction, people can get up to three years in prison and fines totaling up to $10,000. In addition, those convicted of a misdemeanor or felony can be subject to probation and other penalties.
Those who are worried about getting in trouble if they are involved in a hit and run collision should think carefully about what they decide to do. If you are the victim of a hit and run and report the incident promptly, you could locate the at-fault motorist. Plus, a personal injury lawyer could teach you how the car accident lawsuit process works and help you recover damages.
How to Locate the Driver Responsible for a Hit and Run Accident
You take precautions as you focus on protecting yourself from hit and run car accidents in LA, California. Regardless, a motorist is negligent, slams their vehicle into yours, and chooses to drive away from the scene. You could feel helpless to find the driver, but a hit and run accident lawyer in Los Angeles can assist.
Reporting your accident to the police immediately can boost your chances of identifying a liable motorist. Police officers could search for a vehicle that fits the description of the one involved in your crash. This could lead to an identification, and if this happens, the liable driver can be held responsible for their actions.
Local homeowners and business operators could provide surveillance footage that can be beneficial in identifying the party who caused your accident. Your Los Angeles hit and run accident lawyer could put you in touch with these parties. If you can find the liable motorist, your lawyer can help you pursue maximum damages from them.
Requesting Damages After a Hit and Run
A hit and run accident attorney in Los Angeles can help you request damages from a liable motorist. You have the option to file an insurance claim in which you seek financial compensation. With this claim, you could receive compensation for damage to your car, your medical bills, and similar crash-related losses.
Ideally, you can notify your insurance provider about your accident, and the business can engage with the liable motorist’s insurer. From here, the companies may find that the other motorist is at fault for your accident. This could lead the at-fault motorist’s insurer to give you sufficient compensation based on this individual’s insurance coverage.
Even if the other driver is to blame for your accident, their insurance company could dispute your claim. There is also the risk that your insurance will go up after a car accident. Your attorney can negotiate with an insurance company on your behalf and, if necessary, help you recover damages via a motor vehicle accident lawsuit.
Damages You Can Recover in a Los Angeles Hit and Run Accident Lawsuit
You could receive economic and non-economic damages in your lawsuit. A Los Angeles hit and run lawyer can provide insights into the two types of compensatory damages. They will encourage you to ask for damages for many reasons, such as:
Car Repairs or Replacement
Your auto repair or replacement property damage costs can be significant. Before you file your lawsuit, share receipts with your attorney that show how much you have had to pay to fix or replace your car. Next, your lawyer can include these vehicle damage costs in your request for compensation.
Medical Bills
You require medical assistance at the accident scene and long-term care and support. What you pay in medical bills can put you in a tough spot financially. Thankfully, your lawyer can account for your current and future medical expenses as they craft an argument in your lawsuit.
Loss of Income
If your injuries are substantial, you could be forced to miss an extended period of time at work. In one of the worst-case scenarios, your injuries could keep you from returning to your job. Your lawyer accounts for your lost earnings and can help you prove to a judge or jury that a liable motorist should be required to cover these.
Pain and Suffering
The pain and suffering you endure as a result of a hit and run can affect you long into the future. If you experience physical, emotional, and psychological trauma due to your accident, tell your lawyer about these issues. In this scenario, your attorney can get insights into your trauma and determine how much you could request for damages based on your pain and suffering.
Work with a personal injury law firm that has experience with hit and run cases. This gives you access to an attorney who can calculate your property damages and other losses. Your lawyer can share details about the average settlement for a personal injury case and look for ways to prove you deserve the most compensation possible.
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Submitting a Hit and Run Wrongful Death Claim
Sadly, a family member can get killed in a hit and run collision. The incident is emotionally devastating to you and your loved ones, and you are uncertain about how to respond. A wrongful death lawyer in Los Angeles is empathetic and compassionate, and they offer legal guidance and support to the families of crash victims.
You could have grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver responsible for your family member’s accident. To find out if this is an option, meet with a wrongful death attorney. They understand the challenges you and your loved ones face at this difficult time in your lives, and they can address your legal concerns and questions with care.
With a lawsuit, you can take legal action against the motorist at fault for a fatal hit and run. Your lawsuit can help you seek justice and damages from this party. As your case moves forward, your lawyer can handle your legal matters while you and your family members continue to support and care for one another.
Evidence You Can Use in a Hit and Run Collision Case
A Los Angeles hit and run attorney can discuss three important things you must know about gathering evidence for a PI case and other legal topics with you. They will work diligently to collect a wide range of critical evidence that could help compel a judge or jury to rule in your favor. Proof you can use in your case against a liable motorist can include:
- Accident scene photos and videos
- Surveillance footage
- Witness statements
- Police reports
- Medical records
- Pay stubs
Hit and run accident attorneys understand the value of evidence. If you have an abundance of proof, a judge or jury may provide a financial award of 100% of the damages you request to assist you with your crash recovery. Your body of evidence could also lead the defendant in your case to propose a fair settlement.
Settling a Hit and Run Accident Case
A hit and run driver could have concerns about the strength of your case against them. Rather than risk going to trial and being ordered to pay maximum compensation, this individual could offer a settlement. If this occurs, you can review the proposal with your lawyer and determine if it is in your best interests to accept, reject, or counter the offer.
Personal injury attorneys will advise their clients to consider the implications of any decision they make on a settlement offer. If you approve a settlement that proves to be far less than what your civil claim is worth, you could have to pay some or most of your accident-related losses on your own. Comparatively, if you decline a proposal, you can continue with the legal process.
In a situation where you are unsure of how to proceed with a settlement offer, consult with a lawyer. You can ask your attorney questions about who pays the settlement after a car accident and share any other legal concerns you have. With your lawyer’s help, you can make informed decisions as you go through the legal process.
When to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit
California has limited deadlines to sue someone based on a bodily injury. The statute of limitations for an injury lawsuit is two years. This time frame will not be extended, and if you choose not to file a lawsuit against a hit and run driver, you will be held responsible for your accident-related losses.
A hit and run law firm can help you decide if now is the ideal time to sue for damages. If so, an attorney can conduct an investigation, identify the at-fault party, and submit a claim for compensation from them. They will prioritize your accident claim and put you in an excellent position to recover fair compensation.
Filing a lawsuit does not guarantee you will get damages. Fortunately, your attorney offers reasonable assistance with your legal matters. They can evaluate your car repair costs and other accident-related expenses, find potential witnesses who will speak on your behalf, and take other measures to help you show a judge or jury that you should be awarded damages.
Partner With Los Angeles Hit and Run Accident Lawyers Who Always Put Their Clients First
Liable parties could commit time and resources to avoid taking responsibility for a hit and run. Yet, hit and run accident victims can suffer catastrophic injuries and other harm due to these parties’ actions. Instead of letting an at-fault driver off the hook for your accident, get help from a lawyer who can help you file a personal injury claim.
Omega Law Group has decades of experience with hit and run cases and other personal injury claims. Our team can help you recover financial compensation from any parties that contributed to your hit and run collision. Contact us for more information.
