California Hit & Run Attorneys

Our experienced and compassionate California Hit and Run Attorneys at Bisnar Chase have been representing hit and run victims for over 39 years. Hit and runs are a serious situation and you need to ensure that you have the best legal representation you can get so that you receive maximum compensation.

Whether you were hit in a car, on a bicycle, skateboard or as a pedestrian, the perpetrator must be found, held accountable, and brought to justice. Hit and runs can be devastating and often life changing. Let Bisnar Chase help rebuild your life.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a hit-and-run collision, the experienced and knowledgeable California hit and run lawyers at Bisnar Chase can help you understand your legal rights and options.

We are invested in the war against hit-and-runs in California. Hit-and-run collisions have risen to epidemic proportions in our state and it is simply not right. Our goal is to help you get the justice and fair compensation you deserve for your significant losses.

Please contact us at 800-561-4887 for a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation.

John Bisnar, Personal Injury Attorney discusses claim worth and loss recovery.

Hit and Run is a Crime

All California drivers are required to stop immediately at the scene of an accident. The number of hit & run accidents in California has risen sharply over the last decade.

The Los Angeles area particularly has the dubious distinction of leading the nation when it comes to hit-and-run collisions. These types of accidents are particularly egregious because of the nature and circumstances of these incidents.

How many media reports do we see every day about drivers striking pedestrians, bicyclists or other commuters and leaving them on the roadway without care or medical attention?

The California personal injury lawyers of Bisnar Chase are particularly outraged by hit and run accidents. In addition to helping hit and run victims and their families pursue justice and fair compensation for their losses, we've also partnered with community members and law enforcement agencies to help apprehend hit-and-run drivers and hold them accountable.

Under California law, all motorists who are involved in an accident that results in an injury or death of a person must immediately stop at the scene and remain there until authorities arrive.

California Vehicle Code 20001 (a) states: "The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person, other than himself or herself, or in the death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident."

Also, under Vehicle Code 20003, drivers involved in an injury accident must give the information to the police officer including name, current address and registration number of the vehicle. Most importantly, motorists are required to do what they can to provide assistance to the injured victims.

This could be something as simple as calling 911. A number of hit-and-run victims suffer fatal injuries because they do not get the medical attention they need right away. In most cases, they are left to die on the street.

Top 5 Hit and Run States in the US

Hit and runs happen everywhere, every single day, but there are states in the US that have higher than average rates of hit and runs. Here is a list of the Top 5 Hit and Run States in the US.

1. North Dakota - Being located in the most northern area of the United States, you would think that the worst time of year for car accidents, hit and runs and other pedestrian related accidents would be winter, due to the snow and icy conditions. Over the last few years, according to dotnd.gov the summertime has the highest amount of accidents.
2. Montana - Montana's 2020 5-year average target is 172 fatalities. In 2015, there were 224 fatalities in car accidents reported.
3. Kentucky - In a recent years report, between 22,000-23,000 collisions were reported.
4. Louisiana - For the last 5 years (2012-2016) traffic fatalities have been over 700 per year.
5. Oklahoma - While many states in the US are showing fatality quantities actually decreasing, Oklahoma, for some reason, is actually showing a consistent amount, averaging out and if anything increasing over recent years.

Many times, drivers who are involved in an injury related or fatal hit and run accident flee and get away, upwards of 80% of the time. Unfortunately, technology and luck are not able to collaborate and make sure 100% of those who are guilty of committing a crime, such as a serious hit and run are captured and appropriately penalized.

Hit-and-Run Statistics

According to the California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 141 fatal and 14,735 injury hit-and-run crashes statewide in one year. During that same year, 147 people were killed and 19,009 people were injured in California hit-and-run collisions.

A further breakdown of hit-and-run statistics shows that seven people were killed in head-on collisions, four were sideswiped, nine were rear-ended, 21 were killed in broadside accidents, 11 were struck by an object, four were killed in rollover accidents and 83 victims were pedestrians.

Los Angeles in particular has gained notoriety as the "Hit & Run Capital of the World." The Los Angeles Police Department is reporting that the city saw 20,000 hit-and-run crashes just in the year 2012.

According to local media reports, out of the 20,000 pedestrians, bicyclists or other motorists who were involved in hit-and-run collisions, 4,000 were injured or killed.

Hit and Run Punishments

While many people who are involved in car accidents flee if the opportunity presents itself, such as no witnesses, or an unconscious victim, the punishments can be quite severe.

Depending on whether the hit and run situation is ruled as a misdemeanor or a felony, heft fines and jail time are both usually a reality for the culprit. Many times people hear misdemeanor and think of it as a minor offense, but in the case of a misdemeanor hit and run, it can land the person in jail for a year and a significant fine up to $5,000.

With felony hit and runs, a fine of up to $20,000 and 15 years in prison can be given.

Seeking Compensation in a Hit-and-Run Case

Following a California car accident, the at-fault driver can be held accountable for the victim's medical bills, suffering and other related damages. This process becomes more complicated when the driver flees the scene of the crash.

The authorities are not always able to track down and apprehend the at-fault driver, which leaves fewer legal options for the victim and the victim's family.

Victims of California car accidents may file an injury claim against the at-fault driver to receive financial compensation for their significant losses. Typically, it is the victim and his or her family that suffers after a hit & run collision.

They go through tremendous emotional and financial pressures in the aftermath of such an incident. Ideally, the negligent driver's insurance will cover the victim's medical bills and other financial, physical and mental losses.

There are, however, legal options available when the at-fault driver is not apprehended or has not been found. If you have uninsured motorist coverage, you may be able to pursue compensation from your own insurance provider.

Call 1-800-561-4887 for a free consultation with an experienced hit and run lawyer.