Who Pays After a Hit-and-Run in Lake Balboa?
When a driver hits you and flees the scene in Lake Balboa, the immediate question is: who is going to pay for your injuries and vehicle damage? Unlike a standard car accident where you can file a claim against the other driver's insurance, a hit-and-run leaves you without an obvious source of compensation. However, several options exist, and an experienced attorney can help you access every available dollar.
Your Uninsured Motorist Coverage
The most common source of compensation in a Lake Balboa hit-and-run is your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. California law requires insurance companies to offer UM coverage to all policyholders, and the majority of drivers carry it. UM coverage is specifically designed to protect you when the at-fault driver is uninsured or, in the case of a hit-and-run, unidentified.
Your UM policy steps into the position of the missing driver's insurance. It can cover:
- Medical expenses from treatment at Valley Presbyterian Hospital and other providers
- Lost wages from time missed at work
- Pain and suffering
- Future medical costs related to your injuries
The amount of UM coverage available depends on the limits of your policy. Many Lake Balboa residents carry UM limits matching their liability limits, which could range from $30,000 to $250,000 or more per accident.
Medical Payments Coverage
If you carry medical payments (MedPay) coverage on your auto insurance policy, this can cover your immediate medical bills regardless of fault and regardless of whether the hit-and-run driver is identified. MedPay typically covers a set amount, such as $5,000 or $10,000, and pays out quickly without requiring a lengthy claims process.
MedPay can provide valuable bridge funding while you pursue a larger claim through your UM coverage or against the hit-and-run driver if they are eventually identified.
Collision Coverage for Vehicle Damage
UM coverage in California covers bodily injuries but not vehicle damage. For your vehicle repairs or replacement, you will need to use your collision coverage if you carry it. Collision coverage is subject to a deductible, which you would need to pay out of pocket. If the hit-and-run driver is later identified, you may be able to recover the deductible from their insurance.
When the Hit-and-Run Driver Is Identified
If LAPD or your attorney's investigation identifies the driver who hit you, additional payment sources become available:
The driver's auto insurance: If the identified driver has liability insurance, you can file a claim against their policy for both bodily injury and property damage.
The driver's personal assets: If the driver is uninsured or underinsured, you may pursue their personal assets through a lawsuit filed at Van Nuys Courthouse West.
Criminal restitution: Hit-and-run is a crime in California. If the driver is criminally prosecuted, the court may order restitution as part of the sentence. However, restitution through criminal court is often limited and does not replace a civil claim.
Identifying the Driver
Finding the hit-and-run driver can make a significant difference in how much compensation you receive. A Lake Balboa hit-and-run attorney will pursue identification through:
- Reviewing surveillance footage from businesses and traffic cameras along Victory Blvd, Balboa Blvd, and Burbank Blvd
- Working with LAPD investigators and sharing evidence
- Hiring private investigators to canvas the area
- Analyzing debris and paint transfer evidence to determine the vehicle make and model
- Checking with auto body shops in the area for recent repairs matching the damage profile
- Using social media and community outreach to find witnesses
Dealing With Your Own Insurance Company
One of the unfortunate realities of hit-and-run cases is that you often end up making a claim against your own insurance company. Many victims assume their own insurer will treat them fairly, but insurance companies are in the business of minimizing payouts, even to their own customers.
Your insurance company may:
- Question whether the accident was really a hit-and-run
- Argue that your injuries are not as severe as you claim
- Delay processing your claim to pressure you into accepting less
- Send you to their own doctors for an independent medical examination designed to minimize your injuries
Having an attorney handle your UM claim levels the playing field and ensures your own insurance company honors its obligations under your policy.
What If You Do Not Have UM Coverage?
If you do not carry uninsured motorist coverage, your options are more limited but not nonexistent. You can still:
- Use your health insurance to cover medical bills
- Pursue the hit-and-run driver directly if they are identified
- Explore whether any other party shares liability, such as a bar that overserved the driver
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.
After a hit-and-run in Lake Balboa, time is critical. Evidence can disappear, surveillance footage gets overwritten, and witnesses forget details. L&F Brown will immediately investigate your case and identify every available source of payment for your injuries. We work on a contingency fee basis and offer free consultations. Visit our Lake Balboa page or call us today.
Injured in Lake Balboa? Talk to a local attorney, no fee unless we win.
Learn about our Lake Balboa personal injury services →
Talk to a senior attorney directly.
