What to Do in the First 24 Hours After a Hit-and-Run Crash in Los Angeles

A driver blows through a red light on Pico Boulevard, slams into your rear bumper, and speeds away before you even finish blinking. In that single moment, you are left with injuries, vehicle damage, and a flood of questions about how to pay the bills. Need Justice Now, APC wants you to know that California law gives you powerful tools to pursue compensation— but those tools work best when you act quickly and deliberately during the first day after impact.

Why the First Day Sets the Tone for Your Claim

Los Angeles records thousands of hit-and-run collisions each year, enough to overwhelm police investigators and insurance adjusters. Evidence fades fast on busy city streets, so anything you preserve in the first twenty-four hours carries extra weight. A consistent, well-documented timeline also shows insurers that you took the crash seriously from the start, which makes it harder for them to argue that your injuries came from somewhere else.

Los Angeles Hit and Run Lawyer on Immediate Safety Steps

Your health comes first. Call 911, accept medical help on scene, and follow paramedics’ instructions even if you feel “fine.” Many soft-tissue injuries worsen overnight, and recorded vitals from the ambulance crew create a medical baseline that links pain directly to the crash. While you wait for the police, scan the area for security cameras on storefronts, rideshare dashboards, or Metro buses; these videos often provide the only identifying details of the fleeing vehicle. Make notes about traffic, weather, and lighting conditions while they are still fresh in your mind. Each observation, no matter how small, can help a claims investigator track down the culprit or prove the severity of the impact.

Gathering Evidence Before It Disappears

Once officers finish their measurements, photograph every scrape on your car, the shattered glass on the pavement, and any paint transfers that could reveal the other driver’s color or make. Ask nearby businesses to save their security footage immediately, because most systems overwrite files within forty-eight hours. If a passerby stopped to help, record that person’s name and number; witness recollections lose sharpness by the second day. Finally, back up phone photos and videos to cloud storage to prevent accidental deletion. Hand this digital package to a Los Angeles personal injury attorney, and the defense will struggle to claim there is no proof of what really happened.

Navigating Insurance When the Driver Flees

California law requires insurers to offer uninsured-motorist (UM) coverage, and your policy’s declarations page shows the amount available for a hit-and-run crash. Call your carrier as soon as practical and ask for a claim number; waiting too long gives adjusters an excuse to say you were never truly injured. Keep a log of every conversation, including the date, the representative’s name, and a short summary of what was discussed. If medical payments (MedPay) coverage is listed on your policy, submit initial treatment bills under that provision so you can focus on recovery instead of immediate out-of-pocket costs. For a deeper dive into policy benefits, review our [Uninsured Motorist Claims] resource.

When to Call a Los Angeles Hit and Run Lawyer

Police departments in Southern California juggle large caseloads, and busy adjusters often look for quick reasons to deny or limit payment. A seasoned lawyer steps in as both your advocate and your investigator. Your attorney can subpoena city traffic-camera footage before it is purged, hire accident-reconstruction experts to confirm impact speed, and negotiate aggressively with your own carrier to maximize UM benefits. Legal representation also keeps you from making recorded statements that insurers may later twist against you. If you have questions about securing surveillance video or proving medical causation, speak to a Los Angeles hit and run lawyer as early as possible.

Your First-Day Action Plan at a Glance

To recap, prioritize safety, document the scene, collect video footage, notify your insurer, and secure medical care without delay. Each of these steps builds an irrefutable record that supports liability, damages, and coverage under California law. Taking decisive action now prevents costly evidentiary gaps later.

Call Need Justice Now Before Critical Proof Vanishes

Hit-and-run crashes leave victims feeling powerless, but prompt legal action flips the script. Connect with Need Justice Now, APC today, and let a dedicated Los Angeles car accident attorney preserve evidence, unlock policy benefits, and push insurers to pay every dollar you deserve. Dial 888-998-4000 for a free consultation, and put an experienced lawyer to work within the crucial first twenty-four hours.