Who Pays After a Hit and Run in Westlake Village?

Curt Brown, Esq. — Founding Partner

Local Westlake Village Injury Attorney · UCLA Law

Curt Brown is a founding partner at L&F Brown. He grew up in Thousand Oaks, just over the hill from Westlake Village, attended Thousand Oaks High School, graduated from UCLA Law School, and has spent his career handling injury cases on both sides of the LA/Ventura County line.

When a driver hits your vehicle in Westlake Village and flees the scene, your first thought may be that you are out of luck. Without an at-fault driver to pursue, how can you recover your medical expenses, lost wages, and vehicle damage? The reality is that California law provides multiple pathways to compensation after a hit and run, and a Westlake Village hit and run attorney will identify and pursue every one of them on your behalf.

Your Own Uninsured Motorist Coverage

The primary source of payment after most hit and run accidents in Westlake Village is your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. California requires auto insurance companies to offer UM coverage to all policyholders. A hit and run driver is treated as an uninsured motorist for purposes of these claims, so your UM coverage activates as if the driver had no insurance.

UM coverage pays for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering up to your policy limits. It does not pay for property damage unless you have uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) coverage or collision coverage. The amount you can recover is limited by the UM limits you selected when you purchased your policy, which range from the California minimum of $15,000 per person to $250,000 or more for well-insured drivers.

There is a critical catch: most UM policies require you to file a police report within a certain timeframe after the hit and run. On US-101, the CHP takes the report. On Westlake Village streets, the LASD Lost Hills Station covers the LA County side and the Ventura County Sheriff's Office covers the Ventura side. Failing to file a timely report can result in UM claim denial. Your attorney manages this requirement and all subsequent insurer communications.

The At-Fault Driver If They Are Identified

Hit and run drivers in Westlake Village are identified more often than victims expect. Traffic cameras near the US-101/Westlake Blvd interchange, business surveillance cameras along Agoura Road and Westlake Blvd, and bystander cell phone footage all contribute to driver identification. Once CHP, LASD Lost Hills, or VCSO identifies the fleeing driver, their personal auto insurance becomes the primary source of recovery, often with higher limits than your own UM policy.

Your attorney will monitor the law enforcement investigation, send preservation demands to businesses with cameras, and be ready to pivot to a direct liability claim the moment the driver is found. If they are found after your UM claim has already been filed, the UM process can be suspended in favor of the direct claim.

Collision Coverage for Property Damage

If you carry collision coverage on your auto policy, it pays for your vehicle repair or replacement regardless of fault, subject to your deductible. Collision claims process faster than UM bodily injury claims and do not require the driver to be identified. If the at-fault driver is later identified and their insurer is forced to pay, your collision insurer may recover what they paid from the at-fault insurer, and your deductible may be refunded to you through subrogation.

Medical Payments Coverage

MedPay coverage, if included in your auto policy, pays your medical expenses immediately regardless of fault and regardless of whether any other coverage applies. It is a no-fault benefit that can help bridge the gap while your UM claim is being processed. MedPay limits are typically lower than UM limits, but they are fast and do not require proving fault.

Third Parties Who May Share Liability

In some Westlake Village hit and run cases, a third party bears some responsibility beyond the fleeing driver. If a defective road condition on Triunfo Canyon Road or a malfunctioning signal contributed to the crash, the relevant government entity, LA County or Ventura County depending on which side of the county line the incident occurred, may be liable. An administrative claim against the government must be filed within six months, which is why contacting an attorney immediately after any serious hit and run is critical.

If you were hurt in a hit and run anywhere in Westlake Village, contact L&F Brown right away. We work quickly to preserve evidence, file all required claims, and pursue every source of compensation on your behalf. Visit our Westlake Village personal injury page for a free consultation.