Hit and run collisions in Orange County leave victims facing sudden trauma while the at-fault driver flees accountability. An Anaheim hit and run accident lawyer from Glotzer & Leib LLP offers direct support to individuals and families suffering from injuries or the wrongful death of a loved one caused by a negligent driver who left the scene.
Call our office today at 747-241-8288 for a free case evaluation.
Drivers run from crash scenes primarily to avoid criminal penalties or financial liability. Law enforcement agencies in Orange County frequently report that fleeing motorists act out of panic or a desire to hide another illegal activity. Common reasons include:
Regardless of the reasons behind a driver’s decision to leave, their choice leaves you carrying unexpected expenses. Our team works to hold responsible parties answerable through every legal path available under state law.
An attorney provides critical assistance by managing evidence collection, dealing with insurance companies, and identifying all sources of financial recovery. A hit and run accident lawyer in Anaheim steps in immediately to investigate the crash site before physical proof disappears.
When you hire Glotzer & Leib LLP, we start gathering evidence while law enforcement conducts its criminal investigation. We request surveillance footage from nearby businesses along major streets like Lincoln Avenue or Euclid Street. Traffic camera data, eyewitness accounts, and vehicle debris help us build strong cases.
We also manage communication with your insurance carrier. Auto insurers frequently scrutinize hit and run claims, demanding extensive verification before paying benefits. We ensure your insurer handles your claim fairly and honors the terms of your policy.
Taking specific actions right after a fleeing driver hits your vehicle protects your health and your legal rights.
First, contact local emergency services immediately. Call 911 so Anaheim Police Officers or the California Highway Patrol arrive to document the crash. Ask for medical assistance right on the scene, even if you feel fine. Adrenaline often masks serious physical injuries like internal bleeding or concussions.
Second, document every detail you remember about the fleeing vehicle while your memory remains fresh. Write down or record a voice note detailing:
Third, look around for witnesses. Ask bystanders for their names and contact phone numbers. Eyewitness testimonies often provide crucial clues that help identify hit and run drivers.
Fourth, photograph evidence of your damaged car, the surrounding intersection, skid marks, broken glass, and your visible physical injuries.
Finally, contact an attorney before making detailed statements to any insurance adjuster. Insurance representatives look for reasons to reduce payouts, so having legal guidance keeps your claim protected.
You can still obtain financial recovery through your own insurance coverage even if law enforcement never locates the fleeing motorist. Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage serves as a vital safety net for Anaheim residents involved in hit and run crashes.
Under California Insurance Code Section 11580.2, standard uninsured motorist bodily injury policies cover losses resulting from a hit and run, provided physical contact occurred between the vehicles. You must report the crash to the police within 24 hours and notify your insurer within 30 days to protect your rights under this coverage.
When you file a claim under your UM policy, your own insurance carrier assumes an adversarial position. They evaluate the claim much like the driver’s insurance company would. Having knowledgeable legal counsel ensures your insurance company treats you fairly and pays the full value of your claim based on your policy limits.
Sometimes, external factors contribute to a crash, opening additional avenues for recovery. For example, if a mechanical defect or an unsafe road design contributed to the collision, third-party claims against manufacturers or municipal entities might be viable.
Choosing the right legal team directly influences the outcome of your claim. Anaheim hit and run accident attorneys at Glotzer & Leib LLP focus on obtaining meaningful financial settlements for injured victims.
Our firm brings key strengths to your legal representation:
We handle every case on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay zero upfront costs or legal fees unless we win a recovery for you.
Our track record highlights our ability to secure results across complex injury cases:
Client feedback shows how we handle every case with personal care:
“Mr. Josh Glotzer is a great attorney. Over the last 15 years he has helped me on a number of cases with professionalism, and more importantly a positive outcome in my favor. I have referred him to a number of friends and colleagues, all of which have been equally as happy with his legal representation. I trust him and confident in legal ability. I highly recommend his law firm.” — Client Review
“Don’t try to deal with insurance companies on your own. They strung me along for almost two years before I gave the case to Glotzer & Leib. Josh and his team quickly obtained a settlement that netted me many times what the insurance company was offering. Thank You!” — Client Review
Don’t let your unfortunate circumstances define your future. Contact us now for a free consultation on how we can help you obtain compensation even when the at-fault driver flees the scene.
A successful hit and run claim allows you to recover money for both economic and non-economic losses caused by the crash. California law allows victims to request broad financial recovery depending on the extent of their harm.
Economic damages cover direct out-of-pocket financial losses resulting from the incident. These include hospital bills, emergency room costs, physical therapy sessions, prescription medicines, and future medical care needs.
You can also recover lost earnings from missed work hours, along with reduced future earning capacity if your injuries limit your ability to work long-term. Property damage coverage pays for repairs to your vehicle or total replacement.
Non-economic damages address personal, physical, and psychological harm. These damages provide recovery for physical pain, mental distress, loss of enjoyment of life, physical impairment, and disfigurement.
If a hit and run crash tragically causes the loss of a family member, surviving relatives can pursue a wrongful death claim to recover funeral costs, burial expenses, and loss of financial support.
California follows a pure comparative negligence standard. This rule allows injured parties to seek financial recovery even if their own actions partially contributed to the collision.
Sometimes, an insurance company argues that you bear partial fault for the incident. They might claim you were speeding, changing lanes improperly, or failing to yield right-of-way prior to the fleeing driver hitting your car. Under pure comparative fault, your awarded compensation drops proportionally by your assigned percentage of fault.
For example, if a court determines your total losses equal $100,000, but finds you 10 percent at fault for the crash, your final recovery equals $90,000. Fleeing drivers frequently leave scenes partly because they know they acted recklessly, but insurance adjusters still try to shift blame to lower their payouts.
Our team challenges these tactics by analyzing physical evidence, accident reconstruction models, and black box data to show complete driver liability.
California law establishes a strict two-year statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. The clock begins running on the exact date the accident occurs or the date of a loved one’s passing.
If you don’t file a lawsuit in an Orange County civil court within this two-year period, you will be barred from seeking financial recovery through the court system.
Short deadlines apply when handling claims involving government entities. If a city vehicle or government agency bears responsibility, California Government Code Section 911.2 gives you just six months from the incident date to file a formal administrative claim.
Working with experienced hit and run accident attorneys in Anaheim helps safeguard these critical legal deadlines while your case develops.
Explore these real-world hit-and-run case examples to understand the civil legal remedies available to victims and surviving families:
Anaheim Hit-and-Run leaves Woman Injured: How severe injuries from a hit-and-run driver spark civil legal action.
Family of Lancaster Hit-and-Run Victim Pursues Civil Damages: How grieving families hold hit-and-run drivers accountable in civil court.
Insurance adjusters begin investigating hit and run claims immediately after receiving notice. While adjusters may sound helpful, their main goal is protecting the insurance company’s profit margins.
Adjusters scrutinize hit and run claims closely because of past fraudulent claims filed by dishonest policyholders. They check your vehicle for paint transfer, review police reports, and verify whether you filed a report within required time limits. They might ask you to give a recorded statement about the incident.
Giving a recorded statement without legal guidance carries risks. Adjusters often ask leading questions designed to get you to admit partial fault or minimize your injuries. Let your attorney handle all communications with insurance adjusters to protect the value of your claim.
Hiring an attorney ensures your rights are protected against insurance companies that often seek to minimize claims involving fleeing drivers. Insurance carriers bring legal teams and adjusters focused on limiting payouts.
An attorney investigates the crash scene, gathers video evidence, handles insurance negotiations, and makes sure you meet all statutory filing deadlines so you receive fair financial compensation.
If law enforcement catches the fleeing motorist, they face criminal prosecution by the local prosecutor. The criminal case runs on a completely separate track from your civil claim for compensation.
You can file a civil lawsuit or insurance claim directly against the driver’s auto liability policy. A criminal conviction serves as strong evidence of liability in your civil case.
California Insurance Code Section 1861.02 prohibits insurance carriers from raising premiums or adding surcharges for claims where you were not principal at fault. Since a hit and run driver caused your collision, filing an uninsured motorist claim should not increase your personal insurance rates.
Pedestrians and bicyclists struck by hit and run drivers can still access compensation through auto insurance policies. If you hold an auto insurance policy with uninsured motorist coverage, that policy generally protects you even while walking or riding a bicycle.
If you do not own a vehicle, coverage from a resident family member’s policy may apply to your medical expenses.
Glotzer & Leib LLP operates on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing out of pocket to hire our legal team. We cover all upfront costs for case preparation, court filings, and expert investigations.
Our firm only collects legal fees as an agreed-upon percentage of the final settlement or court verdict we obtain for you. If we do not secure financial recovery on your behalf, you owe us no legal fees.
Sustaining injuries or losing a loved one due to a driver who flees the scene causes severe physical and emotional stress. The legal team at Glotzer & Leib LLP provides compassionate support and strong representation for hit and run victims in Anaheim, CA.
Contact our office today at 747-241-8288 for a completely free consultation to discuss your case and discover how we can help you recover.
GLOTZER & LEIB, LLP 1020 S Anaheim Blvd Ste 208, Anaheim, CA 92805
“Mr. Glotzer represented me after I was involved in a car accident. I was badly injured,but the insurance company refused to offer me a reasonable settlement. I decided to find an attorney and decided to hire Josh.
His law firm did a great job on my case. They were very responsive to all my questions and obtained a great resolution for me. I received way more money than was originally offered. I would recommend their firm to friends and family.”
“Mr. Josh Glotzer is a great attorney. Over the last 15 years he has helped me on a number of cases with professionalism, and more importantly a positive outcome in my favor. I have referred him to a number of friends and colleagues, all of which have been equally as happy with his legal representation. I trust him and confident in legal ability. I highly recommend his law firm.”
“Don’t try to deal with insurance companies on your own. They strung me along for almost two years before I gave the case to Glotzer & Leib. Josh and his team quickly obtained a settlement that netted me many times what the insurance company was offering. Thank You!”
“My wife was in a car accident last year and Josh did an amazing job representing her. It’s very refreshing to see someone in his profession that actually cares and puts his clients first. He’s the best in the business and I feel so fortunate that I was referred to him. Keep up the great work and thanks for everything you did for my family!”
“I was in a rear end car accident last year and hired Mr. Glotzer’s office. It wasn’t a big case but their office helped me with my property damage claim and did a good job resolving the injury portion of the case as well.”
