A hit and run is a motor vehicle accident that results in injury or property damage, after which the at-fault driver flees the scene. Car accidents can cause severe and life-changing injuries, and when those responsible for such injuries leave the scene of the collision, it can make it harder for victims to recover the compensation they need. Hire a Beverly Hills hit and run lawyer for your injury claim.
As a law firm and law group with extensive experience, Dordick Law Corporation provides comprehensive legal services to clients throughout Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, and the Southern California region. If a hit and run driver caused your injuries in Beverly Hills, contact Dordick Law Corporation at (310) 736-2866 for a free consultation with a knowledgeable and experienced member of our legal team. Clients benefit from the guidance of experienced personal injury lawyers who understand the complexities of these cases. One of our Beverly Hills hit and run attorneys will review the details of the accident and walk you through your options for seeking financial recovery. Even if we can’t identify the at-fault driver, you still have a path forward.
Common Hit and Run Injuries
A hit and run accident can result in several types of serious injuries, often requiring immediate medical care. Some of the most common of these injuries include:
- Fractured Bones – Wrists, forearms, ribs, and legs frequently get broken in motor vehicle accidents due to the forces involved, the hands’ placement on the steering wheel, and how seatbelts protect vehicle occupants from more severe injuries.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries – A blow to the head, such as if your head strikes the steering wheel or a window in an accident, can cause your brain to hit the inside of your skull. This can lead to swelling and internal bleeding that results in cognitive and physical impairment.
- Spinal Cord Injuries – Even a seemingly minor crash can cause spinal cord damage that has a lasting impact on your life. A rear-end collision, for example, may cause a herniated disc, chronic back pain, or paralysis.
- Internal Organ Damage – The blunt forces involved in car crashes can easily damage internal organs and cause severe internal bleeding. These injuries require immediate medical attention, as they can be fatal if left untreated.
- Lacerations – Various objects in your vehicle, including broken glass from the accident, can cause deep lacerations. These cuts may require stitches and could result in permanent scarring.
- Whiplash – When an impact causes your head to violently shake back and forth, it can damage the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in your neck, causing an injury known as whiplash. This is one of the most common injuries seen in rear-end collisions.
Victims of hit and run accidents may experience significant pain and suffering as a result of these injuries, making it essential to seek proper medical care and legal support.
Steps to Take Immediately After a Hit and Run Accident in Beverly Hills
Immediately after a hit and run accident in Beverly Hills, there are several steps you should take to protect your rights and improve your well-being. One of the first is to call 911 and report the accident to the police. You’ll want an officer to come to the scene and file an official accident report, as you may need it when filing your insurance claim.
Next, you should seek medical care, even if you feel fine. The adrenaline coursing through your body after the collision could be masking the pain of severe injuries. And some car accident injuries, like whiplash, often have delayed symptoms. Receiving early treatment can mitigate some of these symptoms.
It’s also important to document the scene before leaving. You should photograph your damaged vehicle, visible injuries, and anything relevant to the accident, such as traffic signs or signals. Be sure to note details about the vehicle involved in the accident. If there are witnesses, ask for their names and contact information and collect witness statements, as these can be crucial for establishing fault.
Finally, it’s important that you report the accident to your auto insurance provider. If the at-fault driver remains unidentified, you’ll need to file an uninsured motorist claim with your insurer to recover compensation.
Ways to Strengthen Your Hit and Run Accident Claim
Beyond the immediate steps to take after a hit and run, you can take several longer-term steps to strengthen your personal injury claim. Pursuing a personal injury claim involves understanding the legal process and exploring all legal options available to you.
These steps include:
- Following up with all doctor appointments and other medical treatments until you make a full recovery or reach maximum medical improvement
- Keeping track of all medical and vehicle repair bills related to the accident so your lawyer can use them when calculating your damages, as compensation in personal injury cases is determined by several factors such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering
- Writing down your daily pain levels and how your injuries affect your ability to perform activities around the house in a journal
To maximize your personal injury claims and ensure your personal injury case is as strong as possible, consider seeking legal counsel. Our Beverly Hills hit and run attorney can guide you through the legal process and help you evaluate all your legal options.
How Our Lawyers Can Assist with Your Beverly Hills Hit and Run Case
When you hire our Beverly Hills car accident lawyers to handle your hit and run case, you benefit from our seasoned trial lawyers and auto accident attorneys who have recovered millions for injury victims. Some of the ways we’ll assist are by:
- Gathering Evidence – Our legal services include gathering various types of evidence, such as accident scene photographs, eyewitness statements, traffic and surveillance camera footage, expert witness testimony, and your medical records. A run accident attorney from our team will ensure every detail is documented to strengthen your case.
- Identifying the At-Fault Driver – We’ll also work to identify the at-fault driver so you can file a claim against their liability insurance. In California, all drivers must have liability coverage of at least $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury and $15,000 per accident for property damage. This compensation is essential for many victims and their families.
- Calculating Your Damages – Understanding your case’s value is vital for recovering fair compensation. Our personal injury lawyers will use their legal experience to accurately assess your case and work with you to determine a value you think is fair.
- Negotiating with Insurance Companies – We’ll handle all communication with the insurance companies on your behalf and negotiate with them for a fair settlement. If the insurance company doesn’t offer a fair settlement, our trial lawyers—recognized as the best attorney for run accident cases—are ready to take your case to trial and seek the maximum compensation.
What Compensation Is Available After a Hit and Run in Beverly Hills?
Victims of hit and run accidents can seek compensation for several types of losses sustained due to the collision. Many auto insurance claims in Beverly Hills involve seeking compensation for the following under California tort law:
- Your past and future medical expenses, including surgeries, physical therapy, hospital stays, medical devices, prescription medications, and medical treatments, as well as medical bills resulting from the accident
- Your lost wages and loss of future earning potential related to your injuries and their impact on your ability to work long-term
- The physical pain and emotional suffering you experience because of your injuries and their lasting effect on your life, such as if you sustained permanent impairment, scarring, or disfigurement, including pain and suffering damages
- The cost of repairing property damaged in the accident or replacing property destroyed in the crash, including your vehicle
The goal of personal injury claims is to obtain fair compensation from the responsible party, whether the other driver is identified or not. Compensation may also be available for victims of truck accidents, car crashes, motorcycle accidents, and other types of accidents involving a negligent driver.
Time Limit for Filing a Hit and Run Lawsuit in California
Under California law, victims of hit and run accidents have a two year statute of limitations to file a personal injury lawsuit against the party responsible for their injuries.
This statute of limitations applies specifically to legal action, not insurance claims. But if the insurance company denies your claim or refuses to offer a fair settlement, a personal injury lawsuit may be your only option for recovering the compensation you need.
California follows a pure comparative negligence rule, which means that even if you are partially at fault for the accident, you can still recover damages, though your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault.
In hit and run cases, the time limit for legal action may not begin until you identify the at-fault driver. However, a hit and run attorney in Beverly Hills can help you determine the exact amount of time you have for your case. It’s always best to consult a lawyer rather than make assumptions about your specific case.
Frequently Asked Questions
See below for our answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about hit and run accidents in Beverly Hills, CA.
Can I seek compensation even if the driver isn’t identified?
If your lawyer or the police don’t identify the driver who struck you and fled the scene, you can still seek compensation through an uninsured motorist claim with your insurance provider. All auto insurance providers must offer uninsured motorist coverage as part of their policies, meaning you likely have this as an option unless you waived your right to purchase it.
Uninsured motorist coverage provides compensation for your losses related to an accident caused by an uninsured or unidentified driver. If the driver gets identified later, you can still seek compensation through a third-party claim against their liability insurance. However, you may have to reimburse your provider for the money it gave you.
Can I file a claim if I was a passenger in a hit and run accident?
If you were a passenger in a vehicle struck by a hit and run driver, you have the same right to file a claim as the driver of the vehicle you were in.
You can file a third-party insurance claim against the at-fault driver if they are identified. And you can file a claim with the uninsured motorist coverage of the driver of the vehicle you were in if the at-fault driver isn’t identified.
Uninsured motorist coverage doesn’t only provide compensation for the policyholder. It also includes coverage for their passengers.
Will the police investigate a hit and run in Beverly Hills?
Police in Beverly Hills will investigate hit and run accidents to try to identify the at-fault driver. However, these investigations aren’t always the highest priority for the police. The police may not follow up on your case for months, and even if they do, it can take a long time to identify and track down the driver.
This is one reason why working with an experienced hit and run accident lawyer in Beverly Hills is important. Your lawyer can gather evidence and attempt to identify the at-fault driver so you can file a liability claim against their insurance policy.
Contact Our Beverly Hills Hit and Run Lawyers
If you were injured in a hit and run accident in Beverly Hills, contact Dordick Law Corporation at (310) 736-2866 for a free consultation. One of our highly qualified Beverly Hills hit and run attorneys will review your case and explain your options for seeking compensation. Our law firm will help you understand the auto insurance claims process.
Schedule your free consultation today and fill up our online form to discuss your case with our experienced team of attorneys. Learn about your legal options with no cost or obligation. Our lawyers can get you the compensation you deserve.
