California Hit and Run Injury Attorney

We help the victims of hit and run drivers who cause accidents and injuries, and fail to stop to exchange information. Our firm has obtained millions of dollars for our clients over 25 years. If you are the victim of a hit and run injury accident call us at 800-816-1529.

If you have been the victim of a hit and run accident we may still be able to get substantial compensation for your damages and injuries. It is imperative that you contact us as soon as possible..

Attorney for Hit-and-Run Accidents in California

• If you or a loved one has been injured in a hit-and-run accident anywhere in California, you should immediately stop reading and call our law firm for a free telephone consultation at (800) 816-1529, extension 1.
• We are Hit and Run Accident Injury Lawyers in California. We will let you know over the phone if we believe you have a case and if we can assist you.
• We can sign you up electronically via your smartphone, tablet, or computer if we believe we can be of assistance to you, and you decide to hire us.
• If you or a loved one do not have health insurance, we can immediately refer you to a qualified physician in your area for medical care. (Yes, even if you lack health insurance)
• Yes, all of this can be accomplished with a single phone call to our law firm. We make every effort to simplify the process for you.

A California Hit-and-Run Victim Attorney Assisting People in Recovering Compensation

Being injured by another driver in a car accident is never easy, but if the other driver refuses to stop, accept responsibility, and render aid, the situation becomes exponentially more challenging. Many victims of hit-and-run accidents are unaware that they may still be entitled to compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, even if the at-fault driver has vanished.

This compensation is typically covered by uninsured motorist coverage, or UM, a type of California auto insurance.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a hit-and-run accident, it is crucial that you immediately retain the services of an experienced California hit-and-run attorney. It is crucial that you recognize the complexity of these cases – Call the Law Offices of Norman Gregory Fernandez & Associates at 800-816-1598 to schedule a free consultation with the best hit-and-run attorney in the area.

California’s Hit-and-Run Laws Are Unambiguous

If a driver bumps or strikes an unattended parked vehicle in California, the driver must leave his or her name and contact information for the owner of the damaged vehicle. It is illegal to flee the scene of a property crime in an attempt to avoid detection. This is a misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a maximum fine of $1,000.

Additional penalties may include three years of probation, restitution for property damage, and two points on the California driver’s license. You should contact a hit-and-run victim attorney as soon as possible for more information on how these points can add up.

If the accident is more severe, hit-and-run may be classified as a felony. To be convicted of this crime, the defendant must have been:

• Must have been the driver at the time of the accident
• Must have caused serious or permanent injury – or death – to another person 
• Must have known that he or she caused the injury-causing accident
• Must have failed to stop and provide aid and exchange information identifying information

A conviction for this felony is punishable by up to a $10,000 fine and three years in state prison (up to 4 years if the hit and run accident led to death or severe injury). If you were injured by a driver who fled the scene of the accident, do not delay in contacting an experienced hit-and-run victim attorney.

The sooner you hire a hit-and-run accident attorney, the greater your chances of receiving the compensation to which you are entitled.

Elements of a Hit-and-Run Accident in California

If you drive in California – or any other state in the United States – you have the enormous responsibility of helping to keep our roads safe for all drivers. Included in this responsibility is adherence to the road rules. If a driver is involved in an accident in California, he or she is required to pull off the road (as safely as possible) at the scene of the accident, and exchange information with the other drivers involved in the accident. In such a circumstance, failure to comply can be classified as either a misdemeanor or a felony.

For a driver to be charged with hit-and-run, the following elements must be present:

• The driver must have fled the accident scene.
• The driver must not have introduced themselves to the opposing driver.
• The collision must have resulted in property damage of some kind.

For a hit-and-run collision to rise to the level of a felony charge, an additional element is required: someone must have been injured. If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a hit-and-run driver, consult with skilled hit-and-run accident lawyers in California today.

Why Do California drivers “Flee the Scene”?

While you may be incapable of imagining yourself fleeing the scene of a car accident, the fact remains that some drivers are considerably less scrupulous than others. This is precisely why there are attorneys for hit-and-run victims. Every driver is required to stop at the scene of a traffic accident, and the vast majority of us would never consider doing otherwise. However, some drivers are able to flee the scene of an accident, and many of these drivers are motivated by other poor decisions:

• The driver is under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
• The driver is already in legal trouble.
• The driver is uninsured and/or lacks a valid California driver’s license.
• The driver is an illegal alien.

Involvement in any of the above indicates that the driver did not initially take his or her responsibilities seriously enough. This increases the likelihood that the driver will be able to flee after causing a car accident. If you were injured by a hit-and-run driver, protect your legal rights by consulting with a hit-and-run accident attorney such as The Law Offices of Norman Gregory Fernandez & Associates immediately.

Drunk driving is associated with hit-and-run collisions (DUI – Hit & Runs)

Many drivers who flee the scene of an accident without fulfilling their legal obligations do so because they have engaged in other illegal activities, such as driving under the influence of alcohol, that precipitated the accidents. Three alarming statistics are provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding the prevalence of these dangerous drivers:

Every 50 minutes, an impaired driver is involved in a fatal crash in the United States.

In 2016, nearly 10,500 people were killed in traffic accidents involving drivers under the influence of alcohol.

While approximately one million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence in 2016, 111 million drivers admitted to driving impaired.

In general, many motorists are willing to operate their vehicles while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A driver who is impaired is more likely to cause an accident and, as a result, may be more likely to flee the scene of an accident. Impaired drivers are dangerous drivers, and if an impaired driver leaves you injured in an accident from which he or she flees, you should contact a California attorney with experience in hit-and-run accidents.

Implications of Drinking and Driving

No driver on our roads is ignorant of the fact that driving under the influence is not only extremely dangerous but also illegal. The physiology of driving under the influence illustrates precisely how alcohol consumption can affect a driver’s ability to operate a motor vehicle:

• An impaired driver has impaired peripheral vision and a diminished ability to recover from road glare. • An impaired driver performs less well when multiple factors compete for his or her attention (common to most driving situations).
• A driver under the influence performs poorly when tracking visually complex objects (common to most driving situations).
• A driver under the influence is also less capable of making sound decisions. Getting behind the wheel while under the influence is an excellent example. This can also increase the likelihood that the driver will flee the scene after causing a traffic accident.

A reputable hit-and-run attorney will fight for your rights and the monetary compensation you require for the road to full recovery.

Distracted Hit-and-Run Motorists

When you think of dangerous drivers on the road, you likely think of impaired drivers, but it’s crucial to realize that distracted drivers can be just as dangerous. With the introduction of these highly distracting smartphones, distracted driving has increased. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines distracted driving as operating a motor vehicle while one’s attention is elsewhere than on driving safely.

These distractions can include using a smartphone, eating and/or drinking, conversing with passengers, fiddling with the radio, focusing on something outside the car, and virtually anything else. The associated traffic data are sobering:

• Distracted driving caused more than 3,400 traffic fatalities in 2016 alone. Teenage drivers are the most frequent offenders.
• Due to distracted driving, 391,000 people were injured in motor vehicle accidents in 2015.
• On any given day, approximately 481,000 motorists use their smartphones during daylight hours.

This results in a large number of dangerous diversions. If a distracted driver causes you to be injured in a hit-and-run collision in California, you should seek the advice of an experienced hit-and-run attorney.

What to Do After a Hit-and-Run Accident in California

If you are involved in an accident with a driver who flees the scene, there are steps you can take to protect your ability to recover compensation. The actions you take can aid authorities in apprehending the driver and establish your right to compensation. These actions include:

Collect as much information as possible at the accident scene.

You may download our California Accident App for iTunes and Android by going to our California Accident App page by clicking here. The app will enable you to record all information related to your hit and run accident and transmit it to our office.

1. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to obtain the license plate number, make, model, and color of the vehicle. If you cannot record this information, you must at least attempt to photograph the vehicle (maybe using your cell phone).

2. Contact the police immediately.

The sooner you report the accident to the authorities, the sooner they can arrest the driver. Additionally, calling the police creates a record of the accident. You can request a collision report from the police station that took the report or the California DMV within a few days. This document will be useful when you submit a claim in the future.

3. Obtain the names and contact information of any potential witnesses.

You need to keep in mind that individuals who witness an accident may stay to check on your condition, but after the police officers and ambulance show up, they may quickly leave. As soon as possible, you should collect their names and phone numbers. The role of witnesses could be crucial. For instance, a witness could confirm that your vehicle was struck by another vehicle.

4. Get immediate medical attention.

You must see a doctor as soon as possible to have any injuries examined for your own health. In addition, if you visit a doctor, a record of your injuries is created. As you improve, you must adhere to the treatment plan prescribed by your doctor.

Report the incident to your own insurance provider.

While you should complete this as quickly as possible, you must adhere to the facts. You do not have to admit or designate any fault. In addition, you should not give a recorded statement or accept a settlement agreement until you have discussed your case with a California hit-and-run attorney.

You require skilled advocates who will fight for you!

Call 800-816-1529 to reach The Law Offices of Norman Gregory Fernandez & Associates. 

You Must Retain the Finest Hit-and-Run Attorney to Handle the Insurance Company

Even if you’re unaware of it, you likely have uninsured motorist coverage as a California driver. The vast majority of California policies include such coverage. However, it is not strictly necessary to have uninsured motorist coverage in order to recover for damages sustained in a hit-and-run collision. Even if you do not have UM coverage, hit-and-run attorneys can often help you collect even if you were not at fault.

Accidents involving a hit-and-run driver are extraordinarily complicated, but receiving adequate compensation for the full scope of your injuries is likely to make the difference between recovering fully and not recovering at all. If you were the driver of the damaged vehicle, a passenger in that vehicle, or a pedestrian or bicyclist injured in the accident and the at-fault driver fled the scene, it is imperative that you speak with a hit and run victim attorney as soon as possible after the accident.

Finding Reliable, Cost-Effective “Hit and Run Accident Lawyers Near Me” in California is Simple.

In the aftermath of a hit-and-run accident in which you or a loved one was injured – or worse – you are likely to feel overwhelmed. While you focus on moving forward with your physical and emotional recovery, your hit-and-run accident attorney will assist you in achieving the best possible outcome for your claim. You may be concerned about the cost of a hit and run attorney, but this should not deter you from seeking legal counsel.

Reputable California attorneys who specialize in hit-and-run cases will not charge you until they have collected your claim. In the event of a hit-and-run accident, contacting a skilled hit-and-run accident attorney in my area can put your mind at ease.

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Representation by an experienced California hit-and-run accident attorney.

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If You Have Been Injured by a Hit-and-Run Driver in California, Consult One of the Best Hit-and-Run Attorneys in California

When a hit-and-run driver flees the scene of an accident, it adds an additional layer of difficulty to an already difficult situation. While it is normal to feel overwhelmed in the aftermath of such an accident, retaining experienced legal counsel is likely essential to the successful resolution of your claim.

The committed hit-and-run attorneys at The Law Offices of Norman Gregory Fernandez & Associates are committed to assisting you in obtaining compensation for your injuries. Our legal team has decades of experience defending the rights of accident victims like you. We’re available to assist you 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so please don’t hesitate to call our office at 800-816-1529 right now to discuss your accident with a hit-and-run attorney.

California Hit-and-Run Accident Injury Lawyers

A hit-and-run collision occurs when two vehicles collide, and one vehicle fails to stop at the scene to exchange information.

Hit-and-run accidents are becoming an epidemic in the modern world due to a number of factors, including the economy, illegal immigrants who are unable to obtain legal driver’s licenses, stricter laws that make it easier to suspend driver’s licenses, etc.

Hit-and-Run is a Criminal Offense

A driver may flee the scene of an automobile accident for a variety of reasons, including fear, lack of insurance, lack of a valid driver’s license, and being under the influence of drugs or alcohol. On occasion, the cause is distraction. However, regardless of motive, it is illegal to flee the scene of an accident that results in property damage, personal injury, or death.

20001-20002 of the California Vehicle Code (Failure to Stop Accidents in California)

Any driver involved in an accident that results in property damage, personal injury, or death to someone other than himself or herself is prohibited by California law from leaving the scene of the accident. This conduct is punishable by imprisonment and/or a hefty fine.

Statistics on CHP Hit and Run Incidents

In 2009, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) documented 15,611 hit-and-run collisions. These accidents resulted in 15,439 injuries and 172 fatalities. Further 2009 statistics reveal: • The majority of fatal hit-and-run accidents were pedestrian-vehicle collisions; • The majority of personal injury hit-and-run accidents were rear end accidents, with a total of 5,248, followed by broadside collisions, with a total of 3,048; • A total of 185 victims were killed in hit-and-run collisions; • A total of 20,260 victims had been injured in hit-and-run collisions; and • 7,415 hit-and-

How to Protect Yourself from Drivers Who Hit and Run

The best and most certain way to protect yourself from a hit-and-run accident is to: (1) Always wear a seatbelt; (2) Obtain comprehensive and collision insurance coverage; and (3) Obtain a robust Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury insurance policy.

The purpose of the seat belt is evident.

The Comprehensive and Collision insurance coverage will cover the cost of repairing your vehicle up to its fair market value, regardless of who caused the accident.

Pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress are covered by the Uninsured bodily injury policy.

Some insurers do not cover hit-and-run accidents.

In many hit-and-run accidents, the driver flees before you can determine the make, model, or license plate number of the vehicle. Many insurance companies will not cover you under your Uninsured Motorist/Bodily Injury (UM/BI) policy unless you can identify the person who hit you so they can determine if they have insurance.

Due to the prevalence of hit-and-run accidents, we recommend that you choose only an insurance company that does not have this requirement.

Witness statements and/or a police report may be sufficient evidence for an insurance company to compensate you under your UM/BI policy in certain instances.

Professional Legal Representation If you have been injured by a hit-and-run driver or have lost a loved one in a hit-and-run accident injury accident in California, the devoted California Hit & Run Accident Lawyers at the Law Offices of Norman Gregory Fernandez & Associates can assist you.

We are committed to ensuring that victims of hit-and-run accidents and their families receive the necessary compensation to cover not only their current expenses, but also any future losses. Insurance companies generate revenue by unjustly denying or underpaying claims.

Our attorneys are experts in dealing with insurance company strategies and have the knowledge, skills, and resources to defend you and your family against deceptive or illegal attempts to deny you compensation. Call us at (800) 816-1529 to tell us more about your specific case.

Every year, hit-and-run accidents, which frequently involve driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, result in tens of thousands of injuries and deaths in the United States and tens of thousands of injuries and deaths in California.

The unfortunate reality for the victims of hit-and-run accidents in California is that, of the thousands of hit-and-run accidents that occur annually in California, many hit-and-run drivers will never be held accountable for their negligence or crime.

In addition to enduring pain and suffering, injured victims will have to contend with accumulating debt due to medical expenses and lost wages. The family members of a victim of wrongful death caused by a hit-and-run must deal with even more severe losses, such as funeral expenses, permanent loss of future earnings, and loss of consortium, in addition to the losses already mentioned.

Restitution for Victims of Hit-and-Run Accidents

Although compensation is available for hit-and-run accident victims and their families under the uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage of their auto insurance policy, it is difficult to obtain. This is partly because the accident itself must meet specific requirements, such as physical contact with the hit-and-run vehicle, and also because insurance companies are notorious for avoiding full payment on an insurance policy or outright denying valid claims. Even if the insurance company pays out on the policy, the victim’s recovery may exceed the amount of compensation.

24/7, you can call 800-816-1529 x. 1 for a free consultation on your California hit-and-run injury accident case.

Get Help Now

The Law offices of Norman Gregory Fernandez & Associates has over 25 years experience handling personal injury cases all over the state of California. We have handled thousands of cases and obtained millions of dollars in settlements and judgments for our clients. Call now for a no pressure free consultation with an actual attorney. 800-816-1529 extension 1.