Hit-and-Run on Balboa Blvd in Lake Balboa: Next Steps

Arya Firoozmand, Esq.

Local Lake Balboa Injury Attorney · UCLA Law

Arya Firoozmand is the founding partner at L&F Brown. A Woodland Hills native, he graduated from El Camino Real High School and UCLA Law School and knows the Lake Balboa community from years of personal and professional experience.

Balboa Blvd is one of the primary north-south routes through Lake Balboa, carrying heavy traffic between the 101 Freeway and communities throughout the San Fernando Valley. Unfortunately, its high traffic volume and long stretches of road make it a frequent location for hit-and-run accidents. If a driver struck you on Balboa Blvd and fled the scene, knowing what steps to take next can make the difference between recovering compensation and being left with nothing.

Why Hit-and-Runs Are Common on Balboa Blvd

Several factors contribute to hit-and-run incidents on Balboa Blvd in Lake Balboa:

• High traffic speeds on straight stretches of the boulevard
• Proximity to freeway on-ramps that allow drivers to flee quickly
• Limited street lighting in some sections, particularly at night
• Heavy traffic that can make it difficult to identify and follow a fleeing vehicle
• The mix of commercial and residential areas creating varied traffic patterns
• Cross-traffic from side streets where drivers may pull out without looking

Drivers who flee the scene often do so because they are unlicensed, uninsured, driving a stolen vehicle, or impaired by alcohol or drugs. Regardless of their reason for running, they are breaking the law and you have every right to seek compensation for your injuries.

Immediate Steps to Take After a Hit-and-Run on Balboa Blvd

The actions you take in the first minutes and hours after a hit-and-run are critical:

Step 1: Call 911. Report the hit-and-run to LAPD immediately. Give the dispatcher as much information as possible about the vehicle that hit you, including color, make, model, and any partial license plate numbers. Note the direction the driver headed on Balboa Blvd.

Step 2: Document the scene. Use your phone to photograph your vehicle damage, the road conditions, any debris left by the fleeing vehicle, and the surrounding area. Look for skid marks or paint transfer that could help identify the vehicle.

Step 3: Look for witnesses and cameras. Check with anyone nearby who may have seen the accident. Businesses along Balboa Blvd may have exterior security cameras that captured the incident. Note the names and addresses of any businesses with visible cameras.

Step 4: Get medical attention. Even if you feel okay, go to Valley Presbyterian Hospital or another medical facility for evaluation. Adrenaline can mask injuries, and some conditions like internal bleeding or traumatic brain injuries may not show symptoms immediately.

Step 5: Report to your insurance company. Notify your auto insurance carrier about the hit-and-run. This triggers your uninsured motorist coverage if the at-fault driver cannot be identified.

Step 6: Contact a lawyer. Speak with a Lake Balboa hit-and-run attorney before giving detailed statements to any insurance company. An attorney can begin investigating immediately while evidence is still fresh.

How We Investigate Balboa Blvd Hit-and-Runs

Our legal team conducts a thorough investigation to identify the hit-and-run driver and build the strongest possible case for compensation:

• Requesting surveillance footage from businesses along Balboa Blvd before it is overwritten
• Obtaining traffic camera footage from the City of Los Angeles
• Working with LAPD detectives investigating the criminal case
• Analyzing physical evidence like paint chips, broken parts, and tire marks
• Canvassing the neighborhood for doorbell cameras and home security footage
• Contacting auto body shops in the Lake Balboa area to check for vehicles matching the damage profile

Compensation Available to Hit-and-Run Victims

Whether the at-fault driver is identified or not, you may be entitled to recover:

• Medical expenses, including emergency care, surgery, physical therapy, and future treatment
• Lost wages from time missed at work
• Pain and suffering for the physical and emotional impact of the accident
• Property damage to your vehicle (through collision coverage)
• Diminished earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work long-term

If the driver is identified and was driving under the influence or committed another serious traffic violation, punitive damages may also be available.

The Criminal Side of a Hit-and-Run

Hit-and-run is a crime under California Vehicle Code Sections 20001 and 20002. If the accident involved injuries, the driver faces felony charges with penalties including up to four years in state prison. LAPD investigates the criminal case, and the Los Angeles County District Attorney handles prosecution.

Your civil injury claim is separate from the criminal case, but the criminal investigation can produce evidence that supports your civil claim. If the driver is convicted, that conviction can be used as evidence in your civil lawsuit.

Filing Your Case at Van Nuys Courthouse West

If litigation is necessary, your case will be filed at Van Nuys Courthouse West. Whether you are suing the identified hit-and-run driver or pursuing an uninsured motorist claim against your own insurance company, our attorneys are prepared to litigate aggressively on your behalf.

Contact L&F Brown for a Free Consultation

What to Do Immediately After a Hit-and-Run in Lake Balboa

A hit-and-run on Balboa Blvd, Victory Blvd, Vanowen St, and Haskell 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 Valley Presbyterian 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.

Time is critical after a hit-and-run on Balboa Blvd. Surveillance footage can be deleted within days, and physical evidence at the scene can disappear quickly. Contact L&F Brown today for a free consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Learn more on our Lake Balboa page.