Do I Need a Lawyer After a Hit-and-Run in Canoga Park?

Arya Firoozmand, Esq.

Local Canoga Park Injury Attorney · UCLA Law

Arya Firoozmand is the founding partner at L&F Brown. He attended El Camino Real High School adjacent to Canoga Park, graduated from UCLA Law School, and has spent his career representing injured clients in the West Valley communities he grew up around.

A hit-and-run accident in Canoga Park is a devastating experience. One moment you are driving along Sherman Way, walking near Lanark Park, or crossing Topanga Canyon Blvd, and the next moment a vehicle has struck you and the driver has fled the scene. You are left injured, confused, and wondering how you will pay for your medical treatment when you do not even know who hit you.

If you were the victim of a hit-and-run in Canoga Park, you absolutely need a lawyer. Here is why.

You May Have More Options Than You Think

Many hit-and-run victims assume they have no recourse because the other driver left the scene. This is not true. Even if the driver is never identified, you likely have legal options for recovering compensation. A Canoga Park hit-and-run accident attorney identifies every available source of recovery, including:

• Your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, which is designed specifically for situations where the at-fault driver cannot be identified or has no insurance
• Your own medical payments coverage (MedPay), which pays for your medical bills regardless of fault
• The at-fault driver's insurance, if the driver is later identified through investigation
• Third-party claims if a dangerous road condition contributed to the accident

Why You Need a Lawyer for a Hit-and-Run Claim

Hit-and-run cases present unique challenges that make legal representation essential:

Dealing with your own insurance company: When you file an uninsured motorist claim, you are filing a claim against your own insurance company. Despite being your insurer, the company has a financial incentive to minimize your payout. They may dispute the severity of your injuries, question whether a hit-and-run actually occurred, or offer a lowball settlement. Your attorney advocates against your own insurer's attempts to shortchange you.

Identifying the hit-and-run driver: An experienced attorney works with investigators to track down the driver who fled. This involves obtaining surveillance footage from businesses along the accident route, reviewing traffic camera data, analyzing debris and paint transfer from the vehicles, canvassing for witnesses, and working with LAPD to follow up on leads.

Navigating complex insurance issues: Hit-and-run claims often involve overlapping insurance coverages and policy language that is difficult for non-lawyers to interpret. Your attorney ensures you access every dollar of coverage available under your policy.

Meeting deadlines: Uninsured motorist claims have specific notice requirements and deadlines under your policy. Missing these deadlines can jeopardize your claim. An attorney ensures all required steps are completed on time.

Steps to Take After a Canoga Park Hit-and-Run

What you do immediately after a hit-and-run can significantly impact your case:

• Call 911 and report the accident to LAPD. A police report is essential documentation for both insurance claims and potential criminal prosecution of the fleeing driver.
• Try to remember as many details about the vehicle as possible: make, model, color, license plate (even a partial plate number helps), and the direction it fled.
• Look for witnesses and get their contact information.
• Photograph the accident scene, your vehicle damage, and your injuries.
• Seek medical attention at West Hills Hospital or your preferred provider. Do not wait.
• Contact your insurance company to report the accident, but do not give a detailed recorded statement without consulting a lawyer first.
• Call a hit-and-run attorney as soon as possible.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Hit-and-Run Cases

California requires auto insurance companies to offer uninsured motorist (UM) coverage to all policyholders. If you carry UM coverage, it protects you in hit-and-run situations. Your UM policy covers medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, just as if you were filing a claim against the at-fault driver's insurance.

The challenge is that your own insurance company often treats these claims adversarially. They may demand extensive documentation, dispute your injuries, or offer far less than your claim is worth. Having an attorney ensures you are treated fairly by your own insurer.

What If the Hit-and-Run Driver Is Found?

If the driver who hit you is later identified, your options expand significantly. You can pursue a claim against their auto insurance policy in addition to your own UM coverage. The driver also faces criminal charges for hit-and-run under California Vehicle Code Section 20001 (felony hit-and-run causing injury) or Section 20002 (misdemeanor hit-and-run involving property damage).

Our attorneys work with LAPD and private investigators to maximize the chances of identifying the fleeing driver.

Contact L&F Brown After a Canoga Park Hit-and-Run

What to Do Immediately After a Hit-and-Run in Canoga Park

A hit-and-run on Topanga Canyon Blvd, Sherman Way, Roscoe Blvd, and Canoga Ave requires fast action. If you are physically able, try to note as much detail about the fleeing vehicle as possible: make, model, color, license plate (even a partial plate helps), and the direction the vehicle traveled. If there are witnesses, ask them what they saw and get their contact information.

Call 911 immediately. LAPD handles hit-and-run investigations on city streets, while CHP handles incidents on the freeways. A police report is essential for both the criminal investigation and your civil claim. California Vehicle Code Section 20002 makes leaving the scene of an accident a criminal offense, and law enforcement takes these cases seriously.

Seek medical attention at West Hills Hospital even if you think your injuries are minor. Adrenaline can mask pain for hours after a crash. The medical record from your first visit establishes the connection between the accident and your injuries, which is essential for your insurance claim.

Even if the hit-and-run driver is never identified, you may still have options for compensation. Your own auto insurance policy likely includes uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, which applies to hit-and-run accidents. California requires insurers to offer UM coverage, and most drivers carry it. An attorney can help you file and negotiate the UM claim, which involves dealing with your own insurance company, not a friendly process despite what you might expect.

If you were the victim of a hit-and-run on Topanga Canyon Blvd, Sherman Way, Roscoe Blvd, or anywhere in Canoga Park, call L&F Brown for a free consultation. We handle hit-and-run cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Time is critical in these cases, so call today.