Hit by a Fleeing Driver in L.A. | Your California Rights
- Tom Feher, Esq.
An innocent motorist was struck early Monday when burglary suspects fleeing a Beverly Crest “hot prowl” burglary led police on an overnight pursuit across Los Angeles County, crashing into a driver in South Los Angeles before continuing on to Long Beach, according to KTLA. Los Angeles police began chasing a black BMW carrying three to four suspects around 3 a.m. on June 8, 2026, and the California Highway Patrol took over on the southbound 405 Freeway. The fleeing car crashed near Central Avenue and Imperial Highway, where a damaged Toyota sedan was involved, before the remaining suspects fled to an apartment complex in Long Beach and abandoned their vehicle.
Attorney's Take: Tom Feher
We see this pattern more often than people expect. A driver is going about an ordinary morning, and a stranger running from the police plows into them. The person who caused the harm is the one in the headlines, but the person left with the medical bills, the wrecked car, and the missed work is the innocent driver nobody is talking about. That driver has rights, and in our practice the recovery almost never depends on the criminal case going anywhere.
Here is the part the insurance companies would rather you not think about. When the at-fault driver flees, is uninsured, or turns out to be judgment proof, your own auto policy is often the real source of recovery through uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage under California Insurance Code 11580.2. Every California auto policy has to offer this coverage, and if you did not expressly reject it in writing, you very likely have it. Insurers are quick to treat a fleeing-suspect crash as a hopeless case, because pointing you at a defendant who cannot be found is cheaper for them than paying your claim.
We are also pragmatic about what these cases are worth. A South Los Angeles freeway crash at pursuit speeds can mean serious injuries, and the value of a claim rises and falls on the medical record and the documentation, not on how dramatic the news footage looks. The sooner the evidence is preserved and the treatment is documented, the stronger the claim. You do not need to prove the burglary or untangle the police chase to be made whole for what happened to your body and your property.
What California Law Says
California gives an injured driver several independent paths to recovery, and a hit-and-run does not close them off. The key rules:
- Two-year deadline. The statute of limitations for a personal injury claim is two years from the date of the crash under California Code of Civil Procedure 335.1. Property-damage claims carry a three-year deadline.
- Uninsured and hit-and-run coverage. Insurance Code 11580.2 requires insurers to offer uninsured motorist coverage, which can apply when the at-fault driver flees and is never identified, provided the contact and reporting requirements are met.
- Pure comparative fault. Under Civil Code 1431.2, California follows a pure comparative negligence rule, so even a driver found partly at fault can recover, reduced by their share of responsibility.
- Hit-and-run is a separate crime. Fleeing the scene violates Vehicle Code 20001 and 20002, but the driver’s criminal exposure is independent of your civil right to be compensated.
- Prompt reporting matters. Uninsured motorist claims, especially in phantom or fleeing-driver scenarios, often carry strict notice deadlines in the policy, so the report and the claim should not wait.
For a deeper look at suing an at-fault or criminal driver, see our explainer on whether you can sue a drunk driver in California, and our overview of California car accident claims.
If This Happened to You or a Loved One
If you were the driver struck by a fleeing vehicle, a few early steps protect both your health and your claim:
- Get medical attention right away, even if you feel fine. The record becomes the case.
- Call police and get the report number. In a pursuit-related crash, multiple agencies may be involved, so note each one.
- Photograph the scene, the vehicle positions, and any debris before anything is moved or towed.
- Identify witnesses and get their contact information while they are still on scene.
- Do not give a recorded statement to any insurer, including your own, before you understand your coverage.
- Report the crash to your own auto insurer promptly to preserve uninsured motorist rights, and speak with a California car accident attorney within days, not weeks.
You pay nothing unless we win. Call Feher Law at (310) 340-1112 for a free, confidential consultation, or learn more about our California personal injury representation.
Talk to a California Personal Injury Attorney
Feher Law has recovered over $100 million for clients across Southern California. Call (310) 340-1112 or schedule a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can still pursue a claim. If the fleeing driver is never identified, your own uninsured motorist coverage under Insurance Code 11580.2 may pay for your injuries, as long as you meet the reporting and contact requirements. Acting quickly helps preserve that coverage.
This is exactly what uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is for. It is part of your own auto policy unless you waived it in writing. It can step in when the other driver has no insurance, not enough insurance, or disappears after the crash.
Generally two years from the date of the crash for injury claims under Code of Civil Procedure 335.1, and three years for property damage. Insurance policies can impose shorter notice deadlines, so do not wait to report.
Possibly. An innocent driver injured in a pursuit-related crash may have claims against the fleeing driver and, in some situations, other responsible parties. These cases are fact-specific, and an attorney can review whether more than one source of recovery applies.
Get medical care, call the police and obtain a report number, photograph everything, collect witness information, and notify your own insurer promptly. Avoid giving recorded statements until you understand your rights and your coverage.
At Feher Law there is no upfront cost. We handle personal injury cases on a contingency basis, which means you pay nothing unless we win. The initial consultation is free and confidential.
Last reviewed by Thomas Feher, Esq., June 2026
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This article is for general information and is not legal advice for any specific matter.
