Managing Partner
Hit and run accidents are more common than ever. It’s important to understand that you have the right to recover compensation after an accident, even if the at-fault driver leaves the scene. Personal injury lawsuits involving a hit and run car accident can be complicated.
The experienced legal team at Glotzer & Leib, LLP will protect your rights and help you get the money you deserve. Call our Los Angeles law firm today to schedule a free initial consultation. We will review your case and explain your legal rights and options.
Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident is hard enough without having to worry about finding the person who hit you. Injuries can be painful and time-consuming. You may have to miss time at work while you recover, which can add to your growing financial stress. While you can try to pursue compensation on your own, you risk leaving money you deserve on the table.
Hiring a personal injury attorney to handle your case not only gives you time to get better, but also puts you in the best position to maximize your financial award. Here’s what you can expect when you turn to the personal injury lawyers at Glotzer & Leib, LLP after your hit and run accident.
We will:
Our goal is to make sure that you are fully compensated for all of your hit and run car accident injuries. We’ll put all of our resources to work to help you in your time of need. Your first consultation is free, so call for help today.
In California, you are legally obligated to stay at the scene of an accident if property is damaged or someone gets hurt. It’s considered a “hit and run” if you leave before identifying yourself and getting help for injured victims, if necessary.
Leaving the scene of an accident can result in criminal charges. It can also make it difficult for victims to recover the compensation they need and deserve.
According to a study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, the number of hit and run accidents in the United States has increased in recent years. Fatal hit and run crashes have increased by 60 percent in the last decade. Every year, there are more than 682,000 hit and run accidents across the country. That’s one hit and run every five seconds.
Hit and run accidents don’t just have to involve motor vehicles. According to AAA, nearly two-thirds of all hit and runs involve pedestrians or bicyclists. In fact, hit and run accidents account for one out of every five pedestrian traffic deaths.
Car accidents happen for a variety of reasons. According to the AAA study, however, certain environmental factors increase the likelihood of a hit and run crash. These include:
Generally speaking, hit and run car accidents are more likely to happen at night on roadways that aren’t frequently traveled. Drivers are more inclined to flee the scene of a crash if they don’t think there are many witnesses around.
The driver who caused your car accident fled the scene and cannot be located. What can you do to get money to cover the rising costs of your injuries? Fortunately, there may be several options available to you.
When you purchased car insurance, your insurance company was required to offer you and encourage you to purchase uninsured motorist coverage (UIM). In fact, you would have been required to sign a waiver if you declined to add this coverage to your policy.
Uninsured motorist insurance is helpful when you are involved in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have insurance. It can also be used when you’re involved in an accident with a hit and run driver. These benefits are paid by your own insurance company. UIM is paid in addition to the standard benefits available under your car insurance policy.
Accidents are complicated. It’s not uncommon for multiple parties to share fault for a collision. If you’ve been involved in a hit and run accident, it’s critical to find out if anyone other than the hit and run driver may share some of the blame. If this is the case, you’re entitled to at least some compensation from them.
Other potentially liable parties might include:
Under California’s comparative fault laws, you have the right to obtain compensation from anyone who contributes to your injuries. At Glotzer & Leib, LLP, our attorneys will thoroughly investigate your case and determine who might share even the slightest amount of blame. We’ll then pursue compensation from anyone who played a role in causing your injuries. This can help you recover compensation even if the hit and run driver is never found.
California law limits the amount of time you have to file an injury lawsuit after an accident. In most cases, the statute of limitations for an injury claim is two years. You can lose the right to obtain compensation if you wait longer than this to assert your legal rights.
However, there are exceptions to the rule. You may have additional time to pursue compensation if you’re a minor at the time of the accident or you don’t discover your injuries right away. The statute of limitations can be tolled – or paused – to give you extra time to file a claim.
The statute of limitations can also be tolled if the person responsible for your injuries is out of the state or can’t be located. You won’t lose the right to file a lawsuit and get money just because the person who caused your accident runs away. The statute of limitations can be put on hold until the hit and run driver is located.
Hit and run accidents can be incredibly stressful. Just because the driver who caused your accident can’t be found doesn’t mean that you can’t get the money you deserve. Contact Glotzer & Leib, LLP to learn about your legal rights and options.
Our Los Angeles attorneys have more than 14 years of experience handling complex personal injury matters. We’ve obtained millions in settlements and awards for our injured clients. If you’ve been injured in a hit and run car accident, we can help you, too. Your first consultation is free, so don’t hesitate to call today.
“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.”
