How Much Can I Recover After a Hit and Run in Sherman Oaks?

Arya Firoozmand, Esq. — Founding Partner

Local Sherman Oaks Injury Attorney · UCLA Law

Arya Firoozmand is the founding partner at L&F Brown. He grew up in the San Fernando Valley, graduated from El Camino Real High School and UCLA Law School, and has spent his career representing injured clients across the Valley — including Sherman Oaks and the 405 corridor.

A hit and run accident leaves you injured, frustrated, and wondering whether you can recover anything at all when the driver who caused the crash is gone. The good news is that compensation is often available through your own insurance policy, and in some cases, through other sources you may not have considered. The amount you recover depends on several key factors.

Your Uninsured Motorist Coverage: The Primary Source

When a hit and run driver cannot be identified, California law allows you to file a claim under your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. This coverage was designed precisely for situations like yours. It compensates you for:

• Medical expenses, including treatment at Sherman Oaks Hospital at 4929 Van Nuys Blvd and any specialist or follow-up care
• Lost wages during your recovery
• Pain and suffering
• Future medical costs if your injuries are ongoing

The amount you can recover through UM coverage is limited by your policy limits. California's minimum UM coverage is only $15,000 per person, but many drivers carry higher limits. If you have $100,000 or $250,000 in UM coverage and your injuries justify it, you can potentially recover up to those limits.

If the Hit and Run Driver Is Later Identified

LAPD Van Nuys Division and CHP investigate hit and runs with various tools, including witness accounts, surveillance cameras from businesses along Van Nuys Blvd and Ventura Blvd, and license plate reader data from cameras throughout Sherman Oaks. If the driver is identified, you gain access to their personal insurance policy in addition to your UM claim, potentially increasing your total recovery significantly.

Medical Payments Coverage

If your auto policy includes Medical Payments (MedPay) coverage, those benefits apply regardless of who was at fault. MedPay is not a substitute for a full injury claim but can help cover immediate medical bills while your primary claim is being resolved.

Factors That Determine Your Recovery Amount

• Severity of injuries: Serious injuries from a hit and run crash on Sepulveda Blvd or the 101/405 corridor produce larger recoveries than minor injuries. Fractures, spinal injuries, and traumatic brain injuries generate the highest claims.
• Your UM policy limits: Your coverage limit caps your UM recovery. This is why attorneys often advise carrying higher UM limits. If your limits are low, an attorney may still find other recovery sources.
• Evidence strength: Police reports, witness statements, medical records, and any footage of the fleeing vehicle support higher settlement values. Strong evidence makes UM claims harder for insurers to contest.
• Whether the driver is identified: Identification opens additional insurance policies and increases your total available recovery.

What Your Insurer Will Try to Do

Even in a UM claim under your own policy, your insurer will act as an adversary in evaluating the claim. They may challenge the severity of your injuries, question the connection between the crash and your symptoms, or argue your policy limits should not be reached. A Sherman Oaks hit and run lawyer will fight back with evidence and legal arguments to maximize your recovery.

To find out what your hit and run case in Sherman Oaks may be worth, contact L&F Brown serving Sherman Oaks today for a free, no-obligation consultation.