Who Pays After a Hit and Run in Calabasas?
The driver who hit you is gone. That doesn't mean you're out of options - it means the payment path runs through your own auto insurance rather than the other driver's insurer. Here's who pays and how.
Your Uninsured Motorist Coverage Is the Primary Answer
Under California law, a hit-and-run driver who cannot be identified is treated the same as an uninsured driver. Your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage becomes the primary mechanism for recovering your losses - medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
California requires auto insurers to offer UM coverage to every policyholder. Most people accept it because it's usually affordable and covers exactly this scenario. Check your declarations page right now to confirm your UM coverage amount. That number is the ceiling on your recovery when the other driver is never found.
What UM Coverage Pays For
UM coverage in California covers the same categories as a standard injury claim: medical bills (including emergency care at West Hills Hospital, specialist treatment, physical therapy, and future care your doctors say you'll need), lost wages from missed work, pain and suffering damages, and in some cases diminished earning capacity if your injuries affect your long-term ability to work.
UM coverage is personal injury coverage - it covers you and any passengers in your vehicle. It's separate from collision coverage, which covers your vehicle's physical damage regardless of fault. Both may apply after a Calabasas hit and run, through separate claims processes.
What California Law Requires You to Do
To make a UM claim after a hit and run in California, you typically need:
- A police report documenting the hit and run from LASD Lost Hills Station (for street-level crashes in Calabasas) or CHP (for 101 freeway crashes)
- Prompt notification to your own insurer of the hit-and-run incident
- Medical documentation establishing your injuries
- In some cases, a sworn statement about the circumstances of the crash
Report the crash to LASD as soon as possible - same day. A police report is foundational to the UM claim process. Without it, your insurer has grounds to dispute whether the crash actually happened as you describe.
If the Driver Is Later Identified
Sometimes the driver who fled is identified later - through a witness tip, a traffic camera on Las Virgenes Road, a neighbor's security camera near Calabasas Commons, or LASD's follow-up investigation. If that happens, the claim mechanics change. You can now file a third-party claim directly against the identified driver's insurer, which may provide different coverage than your own UM policy.
If you've already accepted a UM settlement, the terms of the settlement release affect whether you can pursue the identified driver. This is one reason not to settle a UM claim too quickly - if the driver is going to be identified, that identification changes the recovery landscape.
When UM Coverage Isn't Enough
Your UM coverage limits are set when you buy your policy. If your injuries are serious and your UM limits are low - say, $30,000 when your medical bills already exceed that - you may have a gap. Options to explore: underinsured motorist coverage if the driver is eventually identified and has some coverage, collision coverage for vehicle damage, and health insurance for immediate medical costs while the UM claim is being processed.
For a complete picture of what's available to you after a Calabasas hit and run, a Calabasas hit and run lawyer can evaluate all coverage sources and map out the best path to recovery.
Our Calabasas personal injury attorneys handle hit-and-run cases on contingency. Free consultation - call to discuss who pays and how to get there.
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