Who Pays After a Hit-and-Run in Valley Glen?

Arya Firoozmand, Esq.

Local Valley Glen Injury Attorney · UCLA Law

Arya Firoozmand is the founding partner at L&F Brown. He grew up in Woodland Hills, graduated from El Camino Real High School and UCLA Law School, and has built his practice representing injured clients from communities across the San Fernando Valley.

A driver hit you in Valley Glen and took off. Maybe it happened on Victory Blvd, Oxnard St, or one of the residential streets near Fulton Ave. You are injured, your car is damaged, and the person who did this is gone. The immediate question is practical: who pays for this?

The answer is that there are multiple potential sources of compensation available to you, even if the hit-and-run driver is never found. Understanding these sources is the key to recovering the money you need for medical bills, lost wages, and everything else this crash has cost you.

Your Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage

The primary source of compensation in most Valley Glen hit-and-run cases is your own uninsured motorist coverage. In California, every auto insurance policy must include UM coverage unless you specifically waived it in writing. Most drivers have it.

UM coverage is designed for two situations: when you are hit by a driver who has no insurance, and when you are hit by a driver who cannot be identified. A hit-and-run falls squarely into the second category. Your UM policy treats the unknown driver as an uninsured motorist and provides coverage for your bodily injuries up to your policy limits.

Common UM coverage limits in California include $30,000/$60,000 (per person/per accident), $50,000/$100,000, $100,000/$300,000, and $250,000/$500,000. Your policy declarations page shows your specific limits. If your injuries are significant, higher UM limits make a substantial difference in the amount you can recover.

Filing a UM claim is not the same as filing a claim against the other driver's insurance. You are filing against your own insurer, and they will scrutinize the claim carefully. They may question whether the hit-and-run happened as you describe, whether your injuries are related, and whether the amount you are claiming is justified. This adversarial posture is exactly why having a lawyer matters.

MedPay Coverage

Medical payments coverage (MedPay) is an optional coverage on your auto insurance policy that pays your medical bills regardless of fault. If you have MedPay, it kicks in immediately after the accident and covers medical expenses up to the policy limit, which typically ranges from $1,000 to $10,000.

MedPay is useful because it provides fast access to money for medical treatment at Valley Presbyterian Hospital or other providers while your UM claim is being processed. MedPay does not require you to prove fault, does not involve a deductible, and does not affect your UM claim. You can collect both MedPay and UM benefits.

Your Health Insurance

Your health insurance (employer-provided, Covered California, Medicare, Medi-Cal) can cover your medical treatment for injuries from the hit-and-run. This is particularly important if your UM limits are low or if you waived UM coverage.

One complication: your health insurer may assert a subrogation lien on any recovery you receive from your UM claim. This means they will seek reimbursement for the medical expenses they paid. An attorney can negotiate the lien amount down, often significantly, which increases the net amount you take home.

The Hit-and-Run Driver (If Identified)

If LAPD identifies the hit-and-run driver, you gain a direct claim against that driver and their insurance company. This changes the compensation picture substantially:

The driver's auto insurance: If the driver has liability insurance, you file a claim against their policy for your injuries and damages. This is in addition to or instead of your UM claim, depending on the circumstances and coverage amounts.

Civil judgment against the driver: If the driver is uninsured or underinsured, you can sue them personally. A civil judgment allows you to pursue their assets, wages, and property. While many hit-and-run drivers have limited assets, a judgment remains enforceable for years and can be renewed.

Criminal restitution: Hit-and-run is a crime in California. If the driver is prosecuted, the criminal court can order restitution, requiring the driver to pay for your losses as part of their sentence. Criminal restitution is separate from any civil claim.

LAPD investigates hit-and-runs using surveillance footage, license plate readers, witness tips, and physical evidence. Businesses along Victory Blvd, Oxnard St, and Fulton Ave often have cameras that capture vehicle descriptions and license plates. The sooner your attorney obtains this footage, the better the chances of identifying the driver.

Third-Party Liability

In some cases, a third party other than the fleeing driver shares responsibility for the accident:

A bar or restaurant that over-served the driver: California's dram shop laws are limited, but in some circumstances, an establishment that served alcohol to an obviously intoxicated person can be liable if that person then causes a hit-and-run.

An employer: If the hit-and-run driver was operating a vehicle in the course of their employment, the employer may be vicariously liable under respondeat superior.

A vehicle owner: If the driver was operating someone else's vehicle, the vehicle owner may bear liability under California's permissive use statute.

What Compensation Covers

Regardless of the source, compensation from a hit-and-run claim covers:

Medical expenses: Emergency care at Valley Presbyterian Hospital, follow-up treatment, physical therapy, surgery, and future medical costs.

Lost wages: Income lost during recovery and future earning capacity if your injuries cause lasting limitations.

Pain and suffering: Physical pain, emotional distress, and the psychological impact of being victimized by a driver who fled.

Property damage: Vehicle repair or replacement, covered through your collision coverage or uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) coverage if you have it.

Maximize Your Recovery After a Valley Glen Hit-and-Run

Hit-and-run victims often have more sources of compensation than they realize. A Valley Glen hit-and-run lawyer at L&F Brown identifies every available source, files the appropriate claims, negotiates with your insurer on the UM claim, and pursues the driver if they are identified. Any litigation would be filed at the Van Nuys Courthouse West.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage After a Valley Glen Hit-and-Run

When a hit-and-run driver on Victory Blvd, Oxnard St, Fulton Ave, and Burbank Blvd cannot be identified, your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage becomes the primary source of compensation. California law treats hit-and-run accidents as uninsured motorist claims, allowing you to recover from your own policy.

Many people do not realize they have UM coverage or how it works. California Insurance Code Section 11580.2 requires all auto insurers to offer UM coverage, and most policies include it unless the policyholder explicitly rejected it in writing. Check your declarations page or call your agent to confirm your coverage limits.

Filing a UM claim is not as simple as reporting the accident and receiving a check. Your own insurance company assigns an adjuster who investigates the claim and evaluates your injuries, just as the at-fault driver's insurer would. That adjuster's goal is to pay as little as possible. Having an attorney levels the playing field and ensures your own insurer treats your claim fairly.

If you and your insurer cannot agree on a fair settlement, California law provides for binding arbitration of UM disputes. This process takes place outside of Van Nuys Courthouse West but follows formal legal procedures. An attorney experienced in UM arbitration knows how to present your case effectively and push for full value of your injuries and losses.

We offer free consultations and work on contingency. Visit our Valley Glen personal injury page to get started.