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Action Guide

Hit and Run: What to Do When the Other Driver Fled

This California guide explains what to do after a hit and run. Start with this action: Stay at the scene and call 911 immediately. Preserve this priority record: Any details about the fleeing vehicle (color, make, model, partial plate). Avoid this common gap: Chasing the fleeing driver (dangerous and potentially illegal). The sections below organize the evidence, timing, practical questions, and consultation steps that may matter.

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Raffi Naljian, Founder, Civil Litigation, Personal Injury & Criminal Defense Attorney

Raffi Naljian

Founder, Civil Litigation, Personal Injury & Criminal Defense Attorney

Raffi Garabed Naljian is the founder of Naljian Law Offices and an active California attorney under State Bar #238919. A Los Angeles Times profile says he founded the firm in 2008 after beginning his legal career in 1997, and the State Bar lists personal injury, litigation, criminal law, and business law among his self-reported practice areas.

View Raffi Naljian's full verified profile

Primary identity record

Learn more about Raffi Naljian

This is a focused supporting page. Use Raffi Naljian's full verified attorney profile as the primary identity record for biography, role, languages, office information, and public-record links. Review that profile alongside the issue-specific preparation and public sources below.

The State Bar record lists Raffi Garabed Naljian as an active California attorney, State Bar #238919. Hurt Advice is a separate referral and legal information service, not the attorney's law firm.

How to Evaluate Attorney Fit for This Issue

For what to do after a hit and run, ask how prospective counsel would evaluate Any details about the fleeing vehicle (color, make, model, partial plate) and address the risk of Chasing the fleeing driver (dangerous and potentially illegal). No directory or topic page can determine the right attorney. Compare active-license status, directly relevant experience, communication, fees, conflicts, availability, and who would handle the work, then confirm case fit directly before choosing counsel.

Topic preparation notes

Prepare the right information before an attorney consultation

These notes explain what the issue may involve, which documents make the first review stronger, and when a direct consultation may be more useful than further browsing.

First actions for What to Do After a Hit and Run

First action: Stay at the scene and call 911 immediately. Next action: Try to note the fleeing vehicle's make, model, color, and license plate. Keep the order tied to actual dates so an attorney can distinguish completed actions, open requests, and assumptions.

Priority records for What to Do After a Hit and Run

Start with Any details about the fleeing vehicle (color, make, model, partial plate) and Witness contact information and statements. Add Security camera footage from nearby businesses as a separate source, preserving who created or controls each item and when it was obtained.

Avoidable gaps for What to Do After a Hit and Run

Avoid Chasing the fleeing driver (dangerous and potentially illegal). Also guard against Failing to call police and file a report. A useful file separates confirmed facts, disputed points, and records that still need to be requested.

What to Do Next

  1. 1Stay at the scene and call 911 immediately
  2. 2Try to note the fleeing vehicle's make, model, color, and license plate
  3. 3Look for witnesses who may have seen the vehicle or driver
  4. 4Check for nearby security cameras or dashcam footage
  5. 5Take photos of your vehicle damage and injuries
  6. 6File a police report (required for insurance claims)
  7. 7Seek medical attention even if injuries seem minor
  8. 8Contact your own insurance company to report the claim
  9. 9Consult with an attorney about your coverage options

Evidence Checklist

  • Any details about the fleeing vehicle (color, make, model, partial plate)
  • Witness contact information and statements
  • Security camera footage from nearby businesses
  • Dashcam footage from your vehicle or other drivers
  • Police report with case number
  • Photos of damage, debris, and the accident scene
  • Your uninsured motorist policy declarations page
  • Medical records documenting your injuries

Compare the claim facts with the attorney's credentials, listed practice focus, and public sources.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Chasing the fleeing driver (dangerous and potentially illegal)
  • Failing to call police and file a report
  • Not looking for witnesses before they leave
  • Assuming you have no options because the driver fled
  • Not reviewing your own insurance policy for UM/UIM coverage
  • Delaying medical treatment
  • Waiting too long to file an insurance claim

How the Process Typically Works

1

Complete the first topic-specific action

Begin with this step: Stay at the scene and call 911 immediately. Address urgent safety and necessary care before administrative preparation.

2

Build the supporting record file

Preserve Any details about the fleeing vehicle (color, make, model, partial plate) and Witness contact information and statements as separate sources. Record their dates, custodians, and any unanswered request.

3

Check the file for avoidable gaps

Review the file for Chasing the fleeing driver (dangerous and potentially illegal) and Failing to call police and file a report. Correct missing context without changing or discarding the original record.

4

Compare counsel and receive matter-specific advice

Bring the organized records and questions to the consultation. An independent attorney can evaluate the actual facts only after reviewing them and can provide representation only under a separate agreement.

Damages Questions to Discuss with Counsel

  • Past medical expenses supported by records, when legally recoverable
  • Future care supported by qualified evidence, when applicable
  • Lost income or earning-capacity evidence, when applicable
  • Property loss or repair evidence, when the claim includes it
  • Non-economic harm recognized under applicable law and supported by the facts
  • Other categories an independent attorney confirms after reviewing the matter

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the first practical step for What to Do After a Hit and Run?

Start with this step: Stay at the scene and call 911 immediately. Next: Try to note the fleeing vehicle's make, model, color, and license plate. Address urgent safety or medical needs first, and seek timely advice if a deadline or changing evidence may matter.

Which records should I prioritize for What to Do After a Hit and Run?

Prioritize these records: Any details about the fleeing vehicle (color, make, model, partial plate); Witness contact information and statements. Keep originals, note where each record came from, and identify anything requested but not yet received rather than treating a missing item as proof of what it would show.

What preparation mistake should I avoid for What to Do After a Hit and Run?

Avoid this gap: Chasing the fleeing driver (dangerous and potentially illegal). Preserve the underlying facts and communications, separate what is known from what is assumed, and let a qualified attorney evaluate how the issue applies to the actual matter.

Does this guide create an attorney-client relationship?

No. This guide is general information. Hurt Advice is a lawyer-referral and legal-information service, and representation begins only if an independent attorney accepts the matter under a separate written agreement.

How should I compare attorneys for this issue?

Compare active-license status, directly relevant experience, communication, fees, conflicts, availability, and who would handle the matter. Use the records and questions in this guide to evaluate case fit, then confirm those points directly before choosing counsel.

What fee questions should I ask before hiring an attorney?

Attorney fees and case costs vary. Review the written fee agreement, percentage, litigation costs, repayment terms, and who is responsible for expenses before hiring counsel.

Review the attorney's public background and write down the questions you want answered in a consultation.

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Important Disclosures

Attorney Advertising. Hurt Advice is a lawyer-referral and legal-information service, not a law firm. This website provides general information, not legal advice. Viewing a page or submitting a form does not create an attorney-client relationship. Independent participating attorneys decide whether to accept a matter, and representation begins only under a separate written agreement. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome; results depend on the facts and circumstances of each matter.