Los Angeles has one of the highest hit-and-run rates of any major US city — with the LAPD recording over 20,000 hit-and-run collisions per year across the metro. The problem is worst in South LA, East Los Angeles, and along high-speed freeway corridors where drivers flee before witnesses can react. If the driver who hit you is never found, California's mandatory uninsured motorist coverage provides a direct path to compensation through your own insurer.
Quick Answer
If you were hit by a driver who fled the scene in Los Angeles, call 911, document everything you can about the vehicle, and notify your own auto insurance company within 24 hours to open an uninsured motorist (UM) claim. California law requires every auto insurer to offer UM/UIM coverage under Insurance Code § 11580.2. You have 2 years to file a civil claim under CCP § 335.1. Even if the driver is never identified, you can recover full compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering through your UM policy.
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Why It Matters
California's hit-and-run rate is a direct result of Los Angeles's traffic density, high proportion of uninsured drivers (estimated at 17% of California drivers, the second highest rate in the US), and the city's geography — wide arterials with limited witnesses. What most victims don't know is that California's UM coverage requirement means your own insurer effectively steps into the shoes of the at-fault driver and pays your claim as if they had full insurance. The catch: your own insurer has a financial incentive to minimize the payout. In a UM claim, your insurance company is the opposing party. An attorney ensures the UM claim is valued correctly and negotiates against your own carrier on your behalf.
California had the second-highest rate of uninsured drivers in the US at approximately 16.6% of registered vehicles in 2022.
In Los Angeles County, uninsured motorist exposure is even higher in dense urban corridors — making UM/UIM coverage critical for every insured driver in the metro.
Source: Insurance Research Council (insurance-research.org)
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Check My Eligibility →What To Do Next
- 1
Call 911 immediately. A police report is legally required to file a UM claim in California under most policies. Give the officer as much detail as possible: vehicle color, make, model, partial plate, direction of travel, and driver description.
- 2
Document the scene: photos of your vehicle damage, skid marks, debris field, traffic camera locations visible from the crash site, and any witnesses. Witness contact information is critical — they may have captured the fleeing vehicle.
- 3
Notify your own auto insurer within 24 hours to open a Uninsured Motorist (UM) claim. California Insurance Code § 11580.2 requires your insurer to provide UM coverage unless you signed a written waiver declining it.
- 4
Seek medical care the same day and maintain continuous treatment records. UM claims are valued exactly like third-party claims — your documented medical costs form the basis of the settlement calculation.
- 5
Contact a Los Angeles personal injury attorney before giving your own insurer a recorded statement. In a UM claim, your insurer is on the opposite side of the table. An attorney ensures you are not undervaluing your claim during the investigation.
How much is your case worth in California?
Statewide settlement data by injury type, verified by Jason B. Javaheri, J.D..
Key Numbers
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| California min. UM/UIM coverage requirement | $30,000 per person / $60,000 per accident | California Insurance Code § 11580.2 (updated AB 1107) |
| California uninsured driver rate | ~16.6% of registered vehicles | Insurance Research Council (insurance-research.org) |
| LA hit-and-run collisions per year | 20,000+ (LAPD data) | LAPD Traffic Collision Statistics (lapdonline.org) |
| California statute of limitations — personal injury | 2 years from accident date | CCP § 335.1 |
| Hit-and-run criminal penalty — injury accident (CA) | Felony — up to 4 years state prison | California Vehicle Code § 20001(b)(1) |
| Average ER visit cost — Los Angeles County | $4,100 | HCUP (hcupnet.ahrq.gov) |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- 1
Not calling 911 because 'the driver already left'
a police report is mandatory documentation for any UM claim in California. Without one, your insurer will dispute the event occurred.
- 2
Assuming you don't have UM coverage
California requires insurers to offer it on every policy. You have it unless you signed a written waiver. Most drivers who declined it years ago don't remember doing so. Check your declarations page.
- 3
Notifying your insurer after the 24-hour window
most California auto policies require prompt reporting of any accident. Delays give insurers grounds to dispute the claim on procedural grounds.
- 4
Giving your own insurer a recorded statement without an attorney
in a UM claim, your insurer is the adverse party. They will use your recorded statement to minimize your payout.
- 5
Accepting the first UM settlement offer
UM claims are negotiated exactly like third-party claims. Initial offers are calculated before the full extent of your injuries is known and are routinely below fair value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get compensation if the hit-and-run driver is never found in California?▼
Yes. California's mandatory UM coverage (Insurance Code § 11580.2) explicitly covers accidents caused by unknown or unidentified drivers. As long as you have a police report and UM coverage on your policy, you can file a claim and recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering — regardless of whether the driver is ever identified.
What is uninsured motorist coverage and do I have it in California?▼
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage pays for your injuries when the at-fault driver has no insurance or flees the scene. California law requires every insurer to offer UM coverage on every auto policy under Insurance Code § 11580.2. It is included by default unless you signed a written waiver. Call your insurer or check your declarations page to confirm your current UM limits.
What should I do if I witnessed the hit-and-run but the victim did not?▼
Contact the LAPD non-emergency line and provide your witness account. You can also contact the victim's attorney directly — your statement about the vehicle description, direction of travel, and driver appearance can be critical evidence in the UM claim and any subsequent criminal investigation. California has witness protection provisions for hit-and-run cases.
How long do I have to file a hit-and-run insurance claim in California?▼
You must notify your insurer promptly — typically within 24–72 hours under your policy terms. The civil lawsuit deadline is 2 years from the accident date under CCP § 335.1. If the driver is identified later, you have 2 years from when they were identified to file suit against them directly. Contact an attorney within the first week to protect both the insurance claim and any potential lawsuit.
Will my insurance rates go up if I file a UM claim in California?▼
California Proposition 103 and related Insurance Code provisions restrict insurers from raising rates on drivers who are not at fault. Filing a UM claim after a hit-and-run — where you are the innocent victim — should not result in a premium increase. Confirm this with your insurer before filing, but do not let this concern prevent you from claiming the compensation you are legally entitled to.
Can I still sue the hit-and-run driver if they are identified later?▼
Yes. If LAPD or the DMV identifies the driver — through surveillance footage, witness reports, or plate reader data — you have 2 years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit. You can pursue both the UM claim and a direct lawsuit simultaneously. An attorney coordinates both tracks to maximize your total recovery.
Sources & Citations
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