San Francisco Hit and Run Accident Lawyers

Being injured in a hit-and-run accident creates problems that victims of ordinary car accidents often do not face. The driver who caused the collision may be gone. You may not know their name, address, license plate number, insurance company, or even whether they had insurance.

That does not necessarily mean you are without options.

The San Francisco hit-and-run accident lawyers at The Hassell Law Group represent motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, passengers, and families injured by drivers who flee the scene. Our legal team has more than 90 years of combined personal injury experience handling serious accident cases throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area.

Hit-and-run claims require quick action. Surveillance footage can disappear, witnesses become harder to locate, and California imposes important requirements that can affect uninsured motorist coverage when the fleeing driver cannot be identified.

The Hassell Law Group offers a free consultation, and there is no attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation for you.

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Our Car Accident Case Results

The Hassell Law Group has recovered substantial compensation for people seriously injured in motor vehicle collisions throughout Northern California. You can review additional Hassell Law Group case results.

$12,500,000 confidential result – Head-on commercial truck collision
Recovered for a woman who was severely injured in a head-on collision caused by a commercial truck driver.

$5,000,000 result – Serious injury and fatal head-on collision
Recovered for a woman in her 70s who was seriously injured and her husband who was killed in a head-on collision caused by a negligent driver.

$4,900,000 result – Cement truck T-bone collision
Recovered for a client in his mid-50s who was seriously injured when his vehicle was T-boned by a cement truck.

Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. These results demonstrate our firm’s ability to investigate, develop, negotiate, and litigate serious motor vehicle accident cases involving catastrophic injuries and substantial damages.

Why Choose The Hassell Law Group After a Hit-and-Run Accident?

Hit-and-run cases require more than filing an insurance claim and waiting for police to locate the driver.

Our attorneys may need to simultaneously:

• Preserve evidence before it disappears
• Help identify the fleeing vehicle and driver
• Analyze uninsured motorist coverage
• Protect important insurance deadlines
• Establish that the unknown driver caused the collision
• Document your injuries and financial losses
• Negotiate with your own insurance company
• Pursue the responsible driver if they are eventually identified
• Prepare the case for arbitration or litigation when necessary

Clients choose The Hassell Law Group because we offer:

• More than 90 years of combined personal injury experience
• Significant multi-million-dollar motor vehicle case results
• Experienced trial lawyers
• Direct attorney involvement
• Thorough accident investigations
• Aggressive insurance negotiations
• Free consultations
• No attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation

Your own insurer may become the company responsible for paying your claim. That does not mean its interests suddenly become the same as yours. Insurance companies are not on your side.

We prepare hit-and-run claims with the same care we bring to other serious San Francisco car accident cases, establishing both liability and the full value of your damages.

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What Is a Hit-and-Run Accident Under California Law?

California law requires drivers involved in collisions to stop and fulfill specific legal duties.

When an accident causes injury or death, California Vehicle Code § 20001 requires the driver to stop and comply with California’s requirements concerning identification and assistance to injured people.

When an accident involves property damage only, California Vehicle Code § 20002 separately requires the driver to stop and comply with specified identification and reporting requirements.

For an injured victim, however, the criminal case against the fleeing driver and the civil claim for compensation are two different matters.

Criminal Hit-and-Run Case vs. Your Civil Injury Claim

Law enforcement and prosecutors may investigate and prosecute the driver for leaving the scene.

That criminal case is designed to punish the hit and run driver and enforce California law.

Your civil claim is different. Its purpose is to recover compensation for the harm caused by the collision.

Your personal injury claim may seek compensation for:

• Medical expenses
• Lost income
• Future medical treatment
• Reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Disability
• Emotional distress
• Property damage
• Wrongful death damages when applicable

You do not necessarily have to wait for police to identify or prosecute the driver before investigating your insurance and civil recovery options.

What If the Hit-and-Run Driver Is Never Found?

This is one of the most important questions in a hit-and-run case.

If the fleeing driver cannot be identified, uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage (UMBI) under an applicable automobile insurance policy you had in place at the time of the accident or that was in place in your household may provide compensation when the insurance policy’s requirements and statutory requirements are satisfied.

California Insurance Code § 11580.2 governs uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage and specifically addresses accidents involving unknown hit-and-run vehicles.

The California Department of Insurance also explains uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage and the protections it may provide when the at-fault driver lacks sufficient insurance.

This means the fact that police never find the driver does not automatically eliminate your ability to recover compensation.

Our San Francisco uninsured motorist lawyers regularly handle claims involving inadequate or unavailable liability insurance.

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Three Critical Requirements for an Unknown Hit-and-Run UM Claim

California’s uninsured motorist statute creates requirements that hit-and-run victims need to understand immediately.

1. Physical Contact Is Generally Required

When the owner or operator of the hit-and-run vehicle remains unknown, California Insurance Code §11580.2 generally require the bodily injury to arise from physical contact between the unidentified automobile and the injured person or vehicle.

That distinction can become extremely important.

If an unidentified “phantom vehicle” forces a motorist to swerve and crash without making physical contact, there may be difficulty establishing an unknown-driver hit-and-run claim under California’s statutory UM provisions.

If the fleeing driver is later identified, however, other liability and insurance options may exist.

2. Report the Accident to Law Enforcement Within 24 Hours

California Insurance Code §11580.2 requires a qualifying accident involving an unknown driver to be reported to the appropriate law-enforcement agency within 24 hours for purposes of the statutory uninsured motorist provisions.

In San Francisco, serious hit-and-run crashes should be reported promptly to the San Francisco Police Department. SFPD’s Vehicle Crashes General Order which addresses investigation and reporting of traffic crashes within the City and County of San Francisco.

Do not assume that notifying an insurance company substitutes for reporting the accident to law enforcement.

3. Provide the Required Statement to Your Insurer Within 30 Days

California Insurance Code §11580.2 also contains a 30-day requirement involving a sworn statement to the insurer when the responsible person cannot be identified.

The statement generally must assert that the insured has a claim against someone whose identity cannot be determined and provide facts supporting the claim.

These requirements are one reason serious hit-and-run cases should be addressed immediately.

How Our San Francisco Hit-and-Run Lawyers Investigate the Crash

Finding the fleeing driver can dramatically change the available sources of recovery.

Our investigation may include:

Surveillance Video

We look for video from:

• Nearby businesses
• Homes and apartment buildings
• Parking facilities
• Dash cameras
• Doorbell cameras
• Traffic or transportation-related cameras where available

Video can be erased or overwritten quickly, making early preservation requests important.

Witness Statements

A witness may remember:

• A full or partial license plate
• Vehicle make and model
• Vehicle color
• Damage to the fleeing vehicle
• Driver description
• Direction of travel

Even incomplete information can become valuable when combined with other evidence.

Police Investigation

We obtain available police records and follow developments if law enforcement identifies a suspect vehicle or driver.

Vehicle Damage Analysis

The location and pattern of damage to your vehicle may help establish:

• Direction of impact
• Type of collision
• Possible size or type of fleeing vehicle
• Whether physical contact occurred

Accident Reconstruction

In serious or disputed cases, accident reconstruction evidence may be developed to help establish how the collision occurred and who caused it.

Medical Evidence

We use documentation to show the connection between the crash and your injuries through:

• Ambulance and Emergency records
• Diagnostic imaging
• Specialist treatment
• Surgery
• Rehabilitation
• Future medical opinions

Finding the driver is only one part of the case. We must also establish the full value of the harm the crash caused.

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What Happens If Police Identify the Hit-and-Run Driver?

If the driver is found, additional options may become available.

The Driver’s Liability Insurance

If the driver has valid liability coverage, a claim may be pursued against that policy.

Underinsured Motorist Coverage

If the driver’s insurance limits are insufficient to compensate you fully, your own or a household auto policy with underinsured motorist coverage may become relevant depending on available policies and circumstances.

The Vehicle Owner

The driver may not own the vehicle. Depending on the facts, separate legal theories may exist against the vehicle owner of the vehicle that the hit and run driver fled in.

An Employer

If the driver was working when the crash occurred, that driver’s employer may potentially be responsible under applicable California law.

Other Responsible Parties

Some crashes involve multiple negligent drivers or contributing causes. We investigate all potential sources of liability and insurance rather than assuming the fleeing driver is the only possible source of recovery.

Hit-and-Run Insurance Coverage: Bodily Injury vs. Vehicle Damage

This is another area where hit-and-run victims frequently become confused.

Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage

UMBI may compensate qualifying bodily injuries caused by uninsured or unidentified hit-and-run drivers.

Depending on the policy and damages, a bodily-injury claim may include compensation for:

• Medical expenses
• Lost earnings
• Future medical costs
• Reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering,
• Emotional distress
• Other bodily-injury damages

The California Department of Insurance’s automobile insurance guide explains uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage.

Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Is Different

Do not assume that uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage pays for damage to your vehicle.

California distinguishes UMBI from uninsured motorist property damage coverage (UMPD). The Department of Insurance explains that UMPD applies differently and involves an identified uninsured driver.

If the hit-and-run driver remains unidentified, your collision coverage or UMPD coverage may become particularly important for vehicle damage, depending on the policy.

This distinction is why our attorneys examine the actual insurance coverage rather than assuming every form of “uninsured motorist” protection works the same way.

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Your Own Insurance Company Can Still Dispute Your Claim

A UM claim is made through your own insurance carrier.

But the insurer can still investigate and dispute:

• Whether another vehicle actually caused the crash
• Whether physical contact occurred
• Whether you complied with statutory or policy requirements
• Whether you were partially at fault
• Whether the collision caused all of your injuries
• Whether treatment was medically necessary
• The amount of your lost income
• The value of future damages
• The appropriate amount of pain-and-suffering compensation

California Insurance Code §11580.2 also provides an arbitration process for certain unresolved uninsured motorist disputes.

That is why serious UM claims should be prepared with the same care as claims against another driver’s insurer.

Common Types of Hit-and-Run Accidents We Handle

Hit-and-run accidents can involve virtually every type of road user.

Car Hit-and-Run Accidents

These include rear-end crashes, intersection collisions, sideswipes, freeway collisions, head-on crashes, and other vehicle-to-vehicle impacts.

Learn more about how our San Francisco car accident lawyers handle serious motor vehicle claims.

Pedestrian Hit-and-Run Accidents

Pedestrians have virtually no physical protection from a moving vehicle. A driver who leaves the scene after injuring a pedestrian can turn an a devastating collision into an even more traumatic event.

Our San Francisco pedestrian accident lawyers represent pedestrians seriously injured by negligent drivers.

Bicycle Hit-and-Run Accidents

Cyclists who are hit can sustain traumatic brain injuries, fractures, spinal injuries, and other serious trauma when struck by a vehicle that then leaves the scene.

See our San Francisco bicycle accident lawyers page for more information about cyclist injury claims.

Motorcycle and Scooter Hit-and-Run Accidents

Motorcyclists and scooter riders are also particularly vulnerable to serious injury in hit and run crashes.

Our San Francisco motorcycle accident lawyers handle serious crashes involving riders throughout the Bay Area.

Drunk Driving Hit-and-Run Accidents

An impaired driver may cause a collision and flee afterward. These cases can involve DUI evidence, criminal proceedings, punitive damages, and insurance issues.

Learn more from our San Francisco drunk driving accident lawyers.

Commercial Vehicle Hit-and-Run Accidents

Delivery vehicles, trucks, company cars, and other commercial vehicles who hit and run create additional questions about vehicle ownership, employment, insurance, and corporate liability.

Hit-and-Run Accidents Involving Pedestrians, Cyclists, and Motorcyclists

You do not have to be occupying your own car for uninsured motorist coverage to become relevant after a hit-and-run.

Depending on the policy, insured status, household relationships, and circumstances, UM coverage may potentially protect and cover pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists struck by a hit-and-run driver.

Coverage questions are highly policy and fact specific and should be investigated by your lawyer rather than assumed.

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What Compensation Can You Recover After a Hit-and-Run?

Depending on the case and available insurance, compensation may include:

Medical Expenses

• Ambulance care
• Emergency treatment
• Hospitalization
• Surgery
• Diagnostic testing
• Medication
• Physical therapy
• Rehabilitation
• Future medical care

Lost Income

You may be compensated for wages and other earnings lost when your injuries prevented you from working.

Loss of Future Earning Capacity

Serious injuries may permanently limit the type or amount of work you can perform. Compensation for lost or reduced earning capacity from an accident may be recoverable.

Pain and Suffering

Compensation may be available for physical pain, emotional distress, inconvenience, disability, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Property Damage

Vehicle repair, total-loss value, towing, storage, and rental-related losses may be recoverable through appropriate insurance coverage.

Wrongful Death Damages

Families who lose loved ones were involved in fatal hit-and-run collisions may have separate rights under California wrongful death law to pursue compensation.

Our San Francisco wrongful death lawyers represent families after fatal motor vehicle accidents.

Can You Recover Punitive Damages From a Hit-and-Run Driver?

Possibly, but punitive damages are not automatic because someone left the scene.

California Civil Code § 3294 permits punitive damages when the required evidentiary and legal standards for oppression, fraud, or malice are satisfied.

Whether a particular hit-and-run driver’s conduct meets that standard depends on the evidence and the specific facts of your case. For example, if the hit and run driver is intoxicated when they flee the scene, punitive damages can likely be sought.

If the driver is identified, we evaluate the circumstances surrounding both the collision and the decision to flee to determine whether a punitive damages claim is legally actionable.

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What Should You Do After a Hit-and-Run Accident in San Francisco?

1. Call 911

Report the collision immediately, particularly if anyone is injured.

Give police as much identifying information as you can remember about the fleeing vehicle.

2. Do Not Chase the Driver

Following a fleeing driver can be dangerous and create additional danger and may cause you to leave important evidence behind.

3. Write Down Everything You Remember

As soon as possible, record:

• Full or partial license plate
• Vehicle color
• Make and model
• Approximate year
• Driver description
• Damage to the vehicle
• Direction the vehicle traveled

4. Photograph the Scene

Take photographs and video of:

• Your vehicle
• Impact damage
• Debris
• Skid marks
• Roadway
• Intersection
• Traffic signals and signs
• Visible injuries

For a broader post-accident checklist, see our Ultimate San Francisco Bay Area Car Accident Guide.

5. Get Witness Information

Do not assume police will be able to locate every witness later.

6. Look for Cameras

Identify nearby businesses, residences, parking garages, vehicles, or buildings that may have cameras.

Do not wait weeks to request footage. Seek video footage promptly.

7. Get Immediate Medical Treatment

Seek appropriate medical attention and make sure your injuries are documented.

8. Notify Your Insurance Company Promptly

A hit-and-run accident may trigger important first-party insurance rights and deadlines.

Be cautious about giving detailed recorded statements to your insurer before you understand your coverage and your legal rights.

9. File the Required DMV Report

The California DMV requires an SR-1 report within 10 days when anyone is injured or killed or when property damage exceeds $1,000.

The SR-1 is separate from any report made to law enforcement or an insurance carrier.

10. Contact an Experienced Hit-and-Run Lawyer

The early days after the crash can be critical for both evidence preservation and insurance compliance. Engage an experienced lawyer to assist with your case.

Important Hit-and-Run Deadlines in California

Several different deadlines may apply.

24 Hours: Police Report for an Unknown-Driver UM Claim

California Insurance Code §11580.2 contains a 24-hour reporting requirement involving the appropriate law-enforcement agency for qualifying uninsured motorist claims involving an unknown hit-and-run driver.

30 Days: Sworn Statement to the Insurer

The same statute contains a 30-day requirement for the insured to provide the required sworn statement to the insurer when the responsible person’s identity cannot be determined.

10 Days: California DMV SR-1

California generally requires a DMV SR-1 accident report within 10 days when anyone is injured or killed or when property damage exceeds $1,000.

Two Years: Personal Injury Lawsuit

California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 generally provides a two-year statute of limitations for actions involving injury or death caused by another person’s wrongful act or neglect.

Separate Requirements for Protecting an Uninsured Motorist Claim

California Insurance Code §11580.2 also contains separate procedural requirements governing uninsured motorist claims, including actions that generally must be taken within specified time periods to preserve the claim.

These overlapping requirements are one of the strongest reasons not to wait after a serious hit-and-run accident. Seek immediate legal representation.

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Fatal Hit-and-Run Accidents and Wrongful Death

Hit-and-run collisions can be fatal, particularly when they involve pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, or high-speed vehicle crashes.

When a family member dies because of another driver’s negligence, eligible surviving family members may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim.

Potential damages depend on the circumstances and may include monetary compensation for loss of financial support, household services, companionship, care, comfort, and guidance.

If the fleeing driver remains unidentified, investigation should be undertaken into the availability of any insurance policies that might apply and provide uninsured motorist coverage and compensation to family members of the deceased.

These cases can involve a criminal investigation, wrongful death law, insurance coverage, and evidence-preservation issues simultaneously.

Frequently Asked Questions About San Francisco Hit-and-Run Accidents

Can I recover compensation if the hit-and-run driver is never found?

Potentially, yes. If you have applicable uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage (or such a policy exists in your household) and satisfy California’s requirements, an applicable insurance policy may provide compensation even when the driver remains unidentified.

Is a hit-and-run driver considered uninsured in California?

An unknown owner or operator can potentially qualify as an uninsured motorist under California Insurance Code §11580.2 when the statutory requirements are satisfied.

Do I really need to report the hit-and-run within 24 hours?

For purposes of a qualifying unknown-driver uninsured motorist claim, California Insurance Code §11580.2 contains a 24-hour law-enforcement reporting requirement.

What if the other car never actually touched mine?

This can create an important coverage issue when the driver remains unknown because California’s statutory hit-and-run UM provisions generally require physical contact in an unknown-driver claim.

Can my own insurance company dispute my hit-and-run claim?

Yes. An insurer may dispute coverage, liability, causation, damages, compliance with statutory or policy requirements, or the value of the claim.

Will uninsured motorist coverage repair my car?

Do not assume UMBI pays for vehicle damage. Bodily injury coverage, uninsured motorist property damage coverage, and collision coverage operate differently. Collision coverage and UMPD coverage often will cover car repairs where the at fault driver hit and ran.

What if police eventually find the driver?

If the driver is identified, we can investigate liability insurance, vehicle ownership, employment status, and other potential sources of compensation while also evaluating applicable UM/UIM rights.

What if the hit-and-run driver was drunk?

The claim may involve both hit-and-run and DUI issues. DUI evidence, criminal proceedings, punitive damages, and insurance coverage may all become relevant. Our San Francisco drunk driving accident lawyers handle these overlapping claims.

Can pedestrians and bicyclists use uninsured motorist coverage?

Potentially. If the pedestrian or bicyclist had auto insurance in effect at the time of the accident, or someone in their household had an auto policy, it may apply. Whether coverage applies depends on the policy, the person’s status as an insured, household relationships, and the facts of the collision.

How much is my hit-and-run accident case worth?

Case value varies from case to case and depends on factors including:

• Severity of injuries
• Amount of any medical expenses
• Whether future treatment is needed
• Amount of any lost wages
• Whether your ability to work has been damaged or reduced
• Permanent disability
• Pain and suffering
• Available insurance limits
• Strength of liability evidence
• Whether the driver is identified
• Other potentially responsible parties

How much does it cost to hire The Hassell Law Group?

Hit-and-run accident cases are handled on a contingency-fee basis.

There is no attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation for you. We are paid out of the compensation we obtain for you.

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Related Practice Areas

• San Francisco Car Accident Lawyers
• San Francisco Uninsured Motorist Lawyers
• San Francisco Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers
• San Francisco Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
• San Francisco Bicycle Accident Lawyers
• San Francisco Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
• San Francisco Wrongful Death Lawyers

Contact Our San Francisco Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyers

A driver fleeing the scene does not necessarily mean you have nowhere to turn.

The San Francisco hit-and-run accident lawyers at The Hassell Law Group will investigate the collision, work to preserve evidence that may identify the driver, analyze your uninsured motorist coverage, document your injuries and damages, negotiate with insurance companies, and prepare your case for arbitration or litigation when necessary.

Time matters particularly in hit-and-run cases because evidence can disappear and California’s uninsured motorist law contains important early reporting requirements.

Contact The Hassell Law Group today at (415) 334-4111 for a free consultation.

No fee unless we recover compensation for you.

The general information provided on this website should not be considered legal advice and does not constitute legal advice. For legal advice, you should consult directly with an attorney regarding your specific situation. If you contact us by telephone, email, letter, or by contact form submission through this website, please note that such communication does not create or constitute an attorney-client relationship. We cannot act as your attorney until we are hired as your attorney by a formal written agreement.