How Much Can I Recover After a Hit and Run in Studio City?

Brian Liu, Esq. — Founding Partner

Local Studio City Injury Attorney · UCLA Law

Brian Liu is a founding partner at L&F Brown. He previously lived in Studio City and knows the Ventura Boulevard corridor and surrounding neighborhoods firsthand. He graduated from UCLA Law School and has spent his career representing injured clients across Los Angeles.

Hit-and-run accidents on Studio City roads, whether on Ventura Blvd, the US-101, or a residential street near Laurel Canyon, leave victims with real injuries and the frustrating challenge of pursuing compensation without a clear at-fault party. How much you can recover depends on several factors, including your own insurance coverage, whether the driver is ever identified, and the severity of your injuries.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage: Your Primary Source

When the at-fault driver flees and is never identified, your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is typically the primary source of compensation. UM coverage is designed for exactly this situation, and the amount you can recover is capped at your UM policy limits.

California requires all auto insurance policies to include UM coverage as an option at the same limits as your liability coverage. The minimum UM coverage in California is $15,000 per person, but many drivers carry higher limits. If your policy has $100,000 in UM coverage and your damages exceed that, you will hit the policy ceiling unless additional sources are available.

What Damages Can Be Recovered Through UM

Your UM policy should cover the same damages you could recover from the at-fault driver if they were identified and insured: medical expenses, including emergency care at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys, lost wages, future medical costs, and pain and suffering. Documenting each of these categories thoroughly is essential to recovering the full value of your UM coverage.

If the Driver Is Identified

LAPD North Hollywood Division handles hit-and-run investigations on Studio City streets, and CHP investigates freeway incidents on the 101. If their investigation or an independent investigation identifies the fleeing driver, their liability insurance becomes available in addition to your UM coverage. That dramatically expands the total available compensation, particularly if the driver carried higher policy limits.

Surveillance cameras on Ventura Blvd's retail and dining strip, traffic cameras at intersections, and dashcam footage from nearby vehicles can all help identify a fleeing driver. A Studio City hit-and-run accident lawyer can work with investigators and independently gather this evidence quickly, before it is erased.

Additional Sources

Depending on your situation, additional sources of compensation may include your health insurance for immediate medical costs, California's Victim Compensation Program if the hit-and-run constitutes a crime, and sometimes underinsured motorist coverage depending on the specific facts. An attorney evaluates all of these sources as part of a complete case analysis.

Fighting Your Own Insurer for Full UM Value

One important reality: your own insurer may not readily pay the full value of your UM claim. Insurance companies approach UM claims with the same cost-minimization strategies they use for third-party claims. Having an attorney who knows how to document and negotiate UM claims ensures you receive the full benefit of the coverage you paid for.

Contact L&F Brown's Studio City team for a free consultation. We evaluate every available source of recovery in Studio City hit-and-run cases and fight for the maximum you are owed.