Hit & Run Defense Lawyers in Los Angeles County

Providing Strategic Defense Against Hit and Run Charges

Being accused of hit and run can have serious consequences, whether the collision involved property damage, bodily injury, or death. Depending on the circumstances, you could face misdemeanor or felony charges, jail or prison time, fines, restitution, driver’s license consequences, and a permanent criminal record. Even when leaving the scene resulted from panic, confusion, or a lack of awareness that a collision occurred, law enforcement may still pursue charges.

If you are under investigation or have been charged with hit and run, the actions you take next can significantly affect your case. Do not leave your freedom and future to chance. Contact our Los Angeles hit and run defense lawyers today for a free and confidential consultation.

What Is Hit and Run Under California Law?

California law requires a driver involved in a collision to stop and complete specific duties, even when the driver did not cause the crash. A hit and run charge focuses on what happened afterward, not who caused the accident.

California separates hit and run cases into two main categories: accidents involving only property damage and accidents involving injury or death.

Misdemeanor Hit and Run Involving Property Damage

California Vehicle Code § 20002 applies when an accident damages another vehicle or property but causes no injury. The driver must stop at the nearest safe location and provide identifying information to the owner or person in charge.

What Drivers Must Do After Property Damage

If the owner cannot be found, such as after hitting a parked car, the driver must leave a written notice with the required information and circumstances. The driver must also notify local police or the California Highway Patrol without unnecessary delay.

Moving to a nearby safe location is not automatically hit and run. California law allows a driver to move out of traffic when remaining could impede traffic or endanger others.

Hit and Run Involving Injury or Death

California Vehicle Code § 20001 applies when an accident injures or kills another person. The driver must stop, provide identifying and registration information, show a license when requested, and provide reasonable assistance, such as calling emergency services or arranging medical transportation.

Additional Duties After an Injury or Fatal Collision

When a collision results in death and no officer is present at the scene, the driver must also report the accident without delay to the nearest California Highway Patrol office or authorized police agency.

What Must the Prosecution Prove?

An accusation is not the same as a conviction. To convict someone of hit and run, prosecutors must prove every required element beyond a reasonable doubt.

In a property-damage case, prosecutors generally must show that you were driving, an accident damaged someone else’s property, you knew a collision occurred or damage was probable, and you willfully failed to stop or provide the required information.

In an injury case, prosecutors must also prove that someone was injured or killed, you knew injury occurred or was probable, and you willfully failed to perform at least one required duty.

Why Knowledge Matters in a Hit and Run Case

Knowledge is often one of the most disputed issues. A minor impact, poor visibility, loud traffic, or mechanical noise may affect whether a driver reasonably knew a collision occurred or that someone or something had been harmed.

Is Hit and Run a Misdemeanor or Felony in California?

Property-damage hit and run is generally a misdemeanor. Injury-related hit and run is a wobbler that may be charged as a misdemeanor or felony, while death or permanent serious injury creates greater felony exposure. DUI, reckless driving, suspended-license driving, or vehicular manslaughter allegations may add separate penalties.

California Hit and Run Penalties

Penalties for Property Damage Under VC § 20002

A property-damage conviction can carry up to six months in county jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. The court may order restitution, and the conviction can add two points to your California driving record.

Penalties for Injury or Death Under VC § 20001

Hit and run involving injury is a wobbler. When the injury is not permanent or serious, a conviction may be punished by up to one year in county jail or a state-prison term, plus a fine of $1,000 to $10,000.

If the collision causes death or permanent, serious injury, a felony conviction can carry two, three, or four years in state prison. A misdemeanor sentence may include 90 days to one year in county jail, subject to limited judicial discretion.

Additional Penalties When Vehicular Manslaughter Is Alleged

Fleeing after certain forms of vehicular manslaughter may add a consecutive five-year prison term separate from the underlying hit and run charge.

How We Defend Hit and Run Charges in Los Angeles

Every hit and run case requires an individualized defense based on what the driver knew, what occurred at the scene, and whether the prosecution can prove each element beyond a reasonable doubt.

How Police Investigate Hit and Run Cases in Los Angeles

A hit and run investigation can move quickly. Police may review license-plate records, surveillance footage, vehicle damage, witnesses, and insurance reports before charges are filed.

Common Hit and Run Defense Strategies

A defense strategy may include one or more of the following:

• The prosecution cannot prove you were the driver. Vehicle ownership alone does not establish who was behind the wheel. Surveillance footage, witnesses, phone records, or proof that someone else had access to the vehicle may create reasonable doubt.
• You did not know an accident occurred. A driver cannot willfully leave a collision they did not know happened. A minor impact, heavy traffic, loud surroundings, poor weather, or the vehicle’s size may support this defense.
• You did not know injury or property damage was probable. A driver must know, or reasonably should know, that harm was probable. Impact force, visibility, noise, vehicle damage, and the other parties’ conduct may undermine that element.
• No qualifying injury or property damage occurred. The prosecution must prove actual harm covered by the statute. Photographs, repair estimates, medical records, and expert analysis may challenge unsupported claims of injury or damage.
• You stopped and substantially completed your legal duties. Police reports may omit attempts to exchange information, call for help, locate the other party, or promptly report the crash after leaving for a legitimate reason.
• You were physically unable to comply. If the collision left you unconscious, hospitalized, or otherwise disabled, medical records and crash evidence may show immediate compliance was not reasonably possible.

Is Panic a Defense to Hit and Run?

Panic alone is not usually a complete defense. However, the surrounding circumstances may affect knowledge, identification, and whether you completed your duties as soon as reasonably possible.

What to Do If You Are Accused of Hit and Run in Los Angeles

Avoid Contacting Drivers, Victims, or Witnesses

Do not contact the other driver, an alleged victim, or a witness before speaking to a lawyer. An apology, text, insurance statement, or social media post may later be treated as an admission.

Be Careful With Insurance Company Communications

An insurance company may request a recorded statement or photographs. Because those communications can affect the car accident claim and criminal investigation, speak with your attorney before giving a detailed account or signing anything.

Preserve Vehicle and Digital Evidence

Preserve photographs, dashcam footage, location history, repair records, messages, and insurance communications. Do not repair or dispose of the vehicle before your attorney documents its condition.

Do Not Overlook California DMV Reporting Rules

A separate SR-1 report must generally be submitted to the California DMV within 10 days when anyone is injured or killed, or when property damage exceeds $1,000. This is different from a police report, and an insurance agent, broker, or legal representative may submit it on your behalf.

Speak With an Attorney Before Giving a Police Statement

Avoid giving law enforcement a detailed statement without legal advice. A hit and run defense lawyer can determine whether and how to communicate with investigators while protecting your rights.

Your Los Angeles Hit and Run Defense Team

Since 2008, DUI Defense Group has focused on DUI and driving-related defense in California, including cases involving accident reconstruction, license issues, and related traffic crimes.

Rob Samudrala’s background as a former prosecutor provides insight into charging decisions, while former DUI judge Robert Granieri offers a judicial perspective on how evidence and defense arguments may be evaluated. Each defense is built around the facts.

We represent clients throughout Los Angeles County and surrounding Southern California communities, providing a direct assessment of the charges, evidence, and available options.

Speak With a Los Angeles Hit and Run Defense Lawyer Today

The decisions you make after a hit and run accusation can affect the evidence, the investigation, and the charges ultimately filed. Early representation gives your attorney more time to preserve evidence, investigate the collision, communicate strategically, and challenge unsupported assumptions before they become part of the case.

If you face a misdemeanor or felony hit and run charge in Los Angeles, contact DUI Defense Group at 424-402-0841. Your consultation is free and confidential.