What if the drunk driver leaves the scene after hitting me in Studio City?

If the drunk driver flees, this becomes both a hit-and-run and a DUI case. Report it immediately to LAPD or CHP, provide as much vehicle description as possible, and contact an attorney right away. Your own uninsured motorist coverage may be the primary source of compensation if the driver is not identified. LAPD North Hollywood Division actively investigates DUI hit-and-run cases.

Can the criminal DUI case affect my civil injury claim?

Yes, in a positive way for victims. A DUI conviction is admissible in the civil case as evidence of liability. It also prevents the defendant from arguing they were not impaired. Your civil case can proceed regardless of the criminal timeline, and a conviction strengthens your negotiating position significantly.

How long does a drunk driver accident case take to resolve in Studio City?

Cases that settle before trial can resolve in six months to two years depending on the severity of injuries and insurer cooperation. Cases requiring trial at Van Nuys Courthouse West may take longer. Your attorney will give you a realistic timeline based on the specific facts of your case and the defendants involved.

What to Do After Being Hit by a Drunk Driver 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.

Being hit by a drunk driver in Studio City is both a traumatic and legally significant event. The actions you take in the minutes, hours, and days after the crash directly affect both your recovery and the strength of your injury claim. Here is a step-by-step guide for what to do.

Step 1: Call 911 Immediately

Call 911 immediately and stay at the scene. If the crash happened on a Studio City street, LAPD North Hollywood Division will respond. If it happened on the US-101, the California Highway Patrol takes jurisdiction. Police presence at the scene of a DUI crash is critically important because officers conduct sobriety testing, document the driver's apparent intoxication, and build the record that becomes central evidence in your civil case.

Tell the 911 dispatcher that you believe the other driver is intoxicated if you observe signs such as slurred speech, smell of alcohol, difficulty standing, or erratic driving behavior prior to the crash.

Step 2: Accept Medical Evaluation at the Scene

Accept any medical evaluation or transport offered by emergency responders. Even if you feel relatively unharmed due to adrenaline, internal injuries, head trauma, and spinal damage may not be immediately apparent. If you are not transported by ambulance, go directly to Valley Presbyterian Hospital at 15107 Vanowen St in Van Nuys or another emergency facility and tell them you were in a car accident.

The medical records from your initial evaluation are foundational evidence in your injury claim. Do not skip or delay emergency care.

Step 3: Document Everything You Can

If you are able, photograph the scene, the other vehicle, your vehicle, your visible injuries, the roadway, and any debris. Note the time, location, and direction of travel. Write down or record a voice memo of everything you observed about the other driver's behavior and condition while your memory is fresh.

Identify any witnesses and get their contact information before they leave the scene. Ventura Blvd's restaurant and retail corridor has significant surveillance coverage, and your attorney will move quickly to preserve footage from nearby businesses. The Tujunga Village area and other commercial sections of Studio City have multiple potential footage sources.

Step 4: Get the Police Report Number

Obtain the case or report number from the responding officer. The police report, particularly in a DUI crash, will contain the officer's observations, the driver's field sobriety test results, any citations or arrests, and witness information. Your attorney will obtain the complete report as soon as it becomes available.

Step 5: Do Not Talk to the Drunk Driver's Insurance Company Alone

The at-fault driver's insurer will likely contact you quickly. Do not give a recorded statement or accept any settlement offer without first consulting an attorney. Initial offers after DUI crashes are often inadequate relative to the full damages available, which in drunk driver cases can include punitive damages on top of compensatory damages.

Step 6: Contact L&F Brown Before Anything Else

Contact a Studio City drunk driver accident lawyer as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours of the crash. Your attorney will obtain the arrest report and criminal case records, investigate whether any Studio City bar or restaurant overserved the driver under California dram shop law, preserve all available evidence, handle all insurance communications, and build a comprehensive claim that includes every dollar you are entitled to.

L&F Brown handles drunk driver accident cases throughout Studio City on a contingency basis. Contact our Studio City team today for your free consultation.

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