Victorville Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyers
with over $750 Million Recovered in Compensation for Injury Clients.
We’ll tell you if you have a case or not, call (888) 488-1391 — We’re here 24 hours a day.
Our Victorville Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyers Offer Clear Guidance After An Injury
Victorville frequently experiences heavy traffic, particularly on weekends. Stretching across the entire city, Interstate 15 is the most used highway for locals and Los Angeles residents to reach Las Vegas. As a result, reckless drivers in high spirits cause hundreds of injuries in the city annually. If you were hit by a driver who fled the scene, our Victorville hit-and-run accident lawyers are here to help. Call us at (888) 488-1391 anytime, any day of the week, for a complimentary initial consultation.
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), 639 victims were killed or injured on Victorville roads in 2020. One of the many reasons for this is that Interstate 15 also connects to other major roads, such as Highway 395 and Highway 18. Unfortunately, some drivers flee the accident scene due to prior criminal records, the presence of alcohol in their bodies, or out of fear of getting apprehended.
If you’ve been hurt in a hit-and-run accident, report it to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) using the SR-1 form. After that, call our personal injury lawyers in Victorville to help analyze the incident and know your legal options. Our lines are open 24/7, and we don’t charge for the initial consultation. Alternatively, you may fill out our contact form, and we’ll reach out to you after evaluating your accident.
April 2019: $14M settlement in a traumatic brain injury case involving a defective piece of equipment at a factory.– BRIAN BEECHER
Why Choose Our Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyers In Victorville?
Hit-and-run accidents are more challenging to solve since the victims often lack the other party’s contact information. Our attorneys have extensive experience in cases of this nature. Our team at Arash Law supports your claim through the following services:
- No Upfront Cost — Arash Law offers a contingency-based agreement for its clients. This means you only have to pay attorneys’ fees if we secure your claim or win your case. If you don’t receive compensation, you won’t owe us for our legal services. There will be a separate charge for other case-related costs regardless of the outcome. We will discuss this during your case assessment and before signing any agreement with us.
- 24/7 Accessibility — We will assist you from the initial step of the legal proceeding through to the very end. We’ll keep you informed and provide updates on the case. We work to help identify potentially liable parties and assist you in pursuing a legal claim against them.
- Network of Resources — If you’ve been hurt in an accident, our law firm can offer access to doctors in Victorville and anywhere in California while we handle your claim.
- Advocate for Your Rights — Our personal injury lawyers in Victorville work to help you seek damages, including medical bills, vehicle repairs, lost wages, and non-economic damages, and represent clients in hit-and-run accident cases. Call our personal injury lawyers in Victorville, who handle hit-and-run accidents, to review your case.
Benefits Of Hiring Victorville Hit-and-Run Attorneys
Hiring an attorney can help you navigate the claims process efficiently. Our Victorville hit-and-run accident lawyers can support your claim through the following:
- Finding the Driver — Locating the driver who hit you after fleeing the scene is one of the most challenging aspects of hit-and-run accidents. Lawyers can help retrieve CCTV footage and other evidence that may aid in identifying the driver who fled the scene.
- Legal Representation — Our attorneys will strive to reach an out-of-court settlement to minimize costs for both parties. However, there are cases where the at-fault party argues that the victim is partially or fully responsible for the accident. Our lawyers at Arash Law are ready to advocate for your rights in court, if needed.
- Settlement Negotiation — If the person responsible is found, their insurance company may offer a settlement. We will evaluate the potential value of your claim, review settlement offers on your behalf to see whether they reflect your actual losses, and help you make informed decisions.
What To Do After A Hit-and-Run Accident In Victorville, CA?
In the event that a driver hits you and flees the scene, here are some steps you can take to help protect your potential claim:
- Assess the Situation — Assess your condition for any injuries sustained in the accident. If you’re seriously hurt, your mobility might be limited. However, if you can safely move out of traffic, do so. Find a secure location, like a sidewalk, to prevent further harm.
- Call 911 — Even if you think no one needs medical aid, call 911 immediately. Inform the dispatcher of the incident so they can dispatch police units to your location.
- Gathering Information — Obtaining evidence and essential information is one of the complex aspects of hit-and-run accidents. It’s not advisable to follow a driver after a hit-and-run. So, get as much information as quickly as possible. You want to try to get the following details:
- License plate number.
- Car make, color, and model.
- Other identifying details on the vehicle.
- Driver’s appearance.
- Inform Your Insurance Company — Also, notify your auto insurance provider about the incident, as many policies cover hit-and-run accidents. If you have personal insurance, you may also contact them to determine if your policy covers this type of accident. However, consider consulting a lawyer before signing anything.
- Call a Lawyer — Call our hit-and-run accident lawyers in Victorville at (888) 488-1391. We’ll help gather additional evidence to identify and locate the driver, and assist you in seeking compensation for your injuries and other losses.
California Laws Regarding Hit-and-Run Accidents
California has specific laws outlining the actions that drivers must take after a collision. When a driver leaves the scene without fulfilling these duties, the incident is considered a hit-and-run. For personal injury claims, these laws help establish fault, support evidence gathering, and show that the at-fault driver failed to meet required legal obligations.
The following statutes often come into play in civil hit-and-run cases.
Hit-and-Run Involving Property Damage — Vehicle Code § 20002
Under California Vehicle Code § 20002, involved in a crash that causes property damage must:
- Stop at the nearest safe location.
- Provide their name and address to the other party.
- Share their vehicle registration and driver’s license information.
- Give the other party their insurance details or leave this information in a visible note if the owner cannot be located.
Failing to stop and provide this information is considered a hit-and-run. For civil cases, this violation can help demonstrate negligence and support an injured person’s claim for property-related losses.
Hit-and-Run Involving Injury or Death — Vehicle Code § 20001
Vehicle Code § 20001 applies when someone is injured or killed in the collision. Drivers must:
- Stop immediately at the scene.
- Provide the injured person or responding authorities with the necessary contact details and insurance information.
- Give reasonable assistance, such as calling emergency services.
In personal injury claims, leaving the scene can be used as evidence of negligent or wrongful conduct. If a victim passes away due to the crash, eligible family members may pursue a wrongful death claim.
If someone died in the collision, the victim’s eligible loved one may also be able to file for a wrongful death claim against the responsible party.
Victorville hit-and-run accident lawyers must prove that the defendant was responsible for the incident. In many cases, lawyers establish a direct connection through:
- Statements made by the defendant to the police, insurance adjusters, and other relevant parties.
- Damages on the defendant’s vehicle correlate to the damages on the victim’s vehicle.
How Do Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyers Determine Who’s Responsible?
Lawyers, along with insurance companies, will use every piece of evidence and gather more information to determine who’s responsible. While it would seem pretty obvious who’s liable in a hit-and-run accident, going over the evidence can help build a well-supported claim.
Lawyers may also gather testimonies from witnesses present at the accident scene to support your claim. Through these methods, your hit-and-run accident lawyers in Victorville will determine who to file the claim against.
However, the burden of proof in hit-and-run cases falls on the prosecution. In other words, your lawyer must be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant:
- Was driving the vehicle.
- Was involved in the accident.
- Caused your injury/damage to your property.
- Knew that the accident might have caused damage to someone else’s property.
- Failed to perform their duties under California Vehicle Code Section 20002.
Common Reasons Why Drivers Get Into Hit-and-Run Accidents In Victorville
Hit-and-run accidents are unique because drivers have individual reasons for fleeing the scene. More often than not, violators are motivated by the following elements to run from their responsibilities:
Drunk Driver
According to the California DMV, Victorville law enforcers apprehended 905 misdemeanor and felony DUI offenders in 2021. Drunk drivers are more likely to flee the scene to avoid a DUI conviction on top of a hit-and-run case.
Panicked Drivers
Some drivers do not intend to flee the scene, but their fear of repercussions may overcome them, causing them to commit the crime anyway. Some hit-and-run drivers who panic at the scene of the incident turn themselves in eventually.
Uninsured Driver
The state of California requires drivers to carry the minimum liability insurance at all times. Drivers who do not possess this may be fined, have their licenses suspended, or have their vehicles impounded.
The penalties become harsher if they hit another driver or a pedestrian without auto insurance, leading some of them to flee the scene.
Previous Legal Problems Of The Driver
The driver who fled the scene may already have other outstanding legal issues. In such situations, the suspect is less likely to take his chances by staying at the location of the incident.
It might be trickier to find the driver in these scenarios because of their stronger motivation to avoid the law. Our Victorville hit-and-run accident lawyers can assist in locating the at-fault driver and help you pursue compensation for your losses.
Gomez v. PG Transportation (settled on 8/11/2023) – settlement involving a man who was struck by a car resulting in a mild traumatic brain injury as well as other orthopedic injuries.– TINA ESHGHIEH
What Financial Compensations Are Available To Hit-and-Run Accident Victims In Victorville?
Compensation for victims doesn’t end with medical bills being paid. Our hit-and-run accident lawyers in Victorville may include economic, non-economic, and punitive damages as part of your claim.
Economic Damages
Economic damages refer to objectively measurable financial losses. This is why it’s essential to document all your expenses related to the accident. Some examples of economic damages include:
- Medical expenses (past and future).
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity.
- Repair/replacement costs for vehicles and other damaged property.
- Domestic services.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages refer to subjective non-monetary losses. Therefore, the compensation for this type of damage differs from one case to another. Your attorneys in Victorville for hit-and-run accidents shall prove that these damages merit compensation.
Some examples of non-economic damages include:
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Inconvenience
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages refer to additional compensation imposed upon the guilty party as punishment. This serves as an incentive for the guilty party to take vital steps to prevent the same incident from happening again.
The court decides when to award punitive damages. These are applicable in rare cases where the guilty party acted with malice, oppression, or fraud.
Statute Of Limitations For Hit-and-Run Accidents In Victorville, CA
A hit-and-run accident may fall into two categories: personal injury and property damage. The statute of limitations varies depending on your claim.
- Personal Injury — If you’re filing for a personal injury claim following a hit-and-run accident, you have up to two years from the date of the incident. If your injuries weren’t immediately apparent, then you have one year from the date of discovery.
- Property Damage — If you’re filing a claim for property damage only, you have up to three years from the date the damage occurred. The California Code of Civil Procedure, Section 338, outlines what constitutes property damage.
Statistics For Hit-and-Run Accidents In Victorville
Victorville recorded 41 hit-and-run fatalities and injuries in 2020. Thirty-eight of these fatalities and injuries involved pedestrians. While the number of these accidents is relatively low, it represents a slight increase from the 36 incidents reported in 2019.
Among California cities of similar population size, Victorville ranks 19th out of 61 for fatal and injury-related hit-and-run crashes.
Consult With Our Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyers In Victorville
Getting hit by a driver who flees the scene can be incredibly frustrating. For starters, you might have no leads to the person responsible. Secondly, gathering pieces of evidence and testimonies may also be difficult as you recover from injuries.
Our hit-and-run accident attorneys in Victorville are ready to help. We assist in identifying the guilty party and collecting all the necessary information to file a claim. Additionally, our lawyers handle other personal injury cases, including those involving car accidents, slip and fall incidents, rideshare accidents, and dog bites. Call us at (888) 488-1391 or fill out our “Do I Have A Case?” form here to get started.
Our legal services are available to California residents, including those in Bell Mountain, Apple Valley, Desert Knolls, Jess Ranch, Mariana Ranchos, Hesperia, North Star Ranch, Oak Hills, Baldy Mesa, Adelanto, Lugo, and Cajon Junction.
