If you’re involved in a hit and run in Bakersfield, you should call 911 immediately, move to safety if possible, document everything you can remember about the fleeing vehicle, gather witness information, seek medical attention, and report the incident to police within the required timeframes.
You must also file a DMV SR-1 form within 10 days if anyone was injured or property damage exceeds $1,000, and you can still pursue compensation through your own uninsured motorist coverage even if the driver is never found.
Hit and run crashes leave victims confused about their legal rights and next steps. Many people don’t realize they have options for recovery even when the at-fault driver disappears or makes critical mistakes in the first hours, which can hurt their claims later.
Understanding California’s hit-and-run laws, evidence preservation requirements, and insurance coverage options can significantly impact whether you receive full compensation or face financial hardship.
What Should You Do Right Now After A Hit And Run In Bakersfield
The first few minutes after a hit-and-run in Bakersfield are very important for your safety and legal rights. It’s not safe to chase after the driver who is fleeing, and it could harm your case.
These five steps will protect you legally and medically:
Step 1: Call 911 And Get To A Safe Location
Call 911 immediately, even for minor crashes. Request a medical evaluation even if you feel fine because adrenaline masks injuries. Only move your vehicle if it’s safe and is not blocking traffic.
Step 2: Document The Fleeing Vehicle And The Scene
Write down everything about the fleeing vehicle while your memory is fresh:
Documenting the Fleeing Vehicle
Focus on obtaining precise details about the car and the driver who left the scene.
Vehicle Identification Details
License Plate Information
Write down the full license plate number, but remember that even a partial plate or just the state name can be helpful to the police.
Vehicle Characteristics
Note the specific make, model, and color of the car. Did you notice any stickers, distinctive features, or unusual lights?
Accident-Specific Documentation
Damage and Direction
Accurately describe where your vehicle struck theirs, and what kind of damage the fleeing car sustained (e.g., dented driver-side rear fender, broken taillight). Note the exact direction the vehicle fled (e.g., turned left onto Elm Street, heading north on Highway 70).
Documenting the Accident Scene
Use your phone to take photographs and record physical evidence before it is moved or disappears.
Photographic Evidence
Vehicle Damage and Debris
Take wide shots and close-up photos of all damage to your vehicle. Also, photograph any debris, broken glass, paint chips, or skid marks on the road. These details help accident reconstruction experts determine speed and point of impact.
Location and Traffic Controls
Take photos of the general surroundings, including street names, landmarks, and nearby businesses, which helps establish the exact location and may indicate where surveillance cameras are located. Document the state of any nearby traffic signals, street signs, or stop signs to verify traffic flow and right-of-way.
Step 3: Identify Witnesses And Nearby Cameras
Witnesses often leave quickly, so get names and phone numbers immediately. Look for surveillance cameras at businesses, homes, and intersections. Note addresses so your lawyer can send preservation letters before the footage gets deleted.
Step 4: Seek Prompt Medical Care And Keep Records
Injuries like whiplash, internal bleeding, or traumatic brain injuries may not appear for hours or days. Consistent medical treatment strengthens your claim. Keep all medical records, bills, and receipts.
Step 5: Report To Bakersfield Police Or CHP And File DMV SR 1
You must file a police report and get the report number. California requires filing the DMV Form SR-1 within 10 days if anyone is injured or property damage is likely to exceed $1,000. The police report doesn’t replace this requirement.
What Counts As A Hit And Run Under California Law
A hit-and-run is when a driver involved in a collision fails to stop, provide aid, and exchange information with the other party. This applies regardless of who is at fault for the crash.
Criminal penalties are severe. Fleeing an injury or death crash can be charged as a felony with up to 4 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Property-damage-only cases are typically classified as misdemeanors, carrying a potential jail term of up to six months and a fine of up to $1,000.
You can pursue civil compensation for your injuries regardless of whether the hit-and-run driver faces criminal charges. These are separate legal processes.
Who Do You Report A Hit And Run To In Bakersfield
You must report a hit-and-run accident in Bakersfield immediately to the appropriate law enforcement agency. Prompt reporting is mandatory for both legal compliance and the preservation of crucial evidence.
Reporting Agencies
The agency you report to depends entirely on the location of the crash.
For Emergencies: Always Call 911
If anyone is injured, or if the accident is blocking traffic and creating an immediate hazard, always call 911 first. The 911 dispatcher will automatically route your call to the correct agency based on your location.
On City Streets: Bakersfield Police Department (BPD)
If the hit and run occurred on a street, avenue, or any roadway within the Bakersfield city limits, you should report the incident to the Bakersfield Police Department. BPD will dispatch an officer to the scene to take the report, investigate, and search for the fleeing vehicle.
On Highways and Freeways: California Highway Patrol (CHP)
If the hit and run occurred on a state highway (like Highway 99 or 58) or an interstate freeway (like I-5), you must report the crash to the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The CHP has jurisdiction over these major roadways.
What Evidence Helps Identify A Hit And Run Driver
Early evidence collection often determines whether the driver gets caught. Surveillance video evidence can be critical, and your lawyer can help secure it. Look for cameras at gas stations, banks, stores, and traffic intersections.
Witness Statements And Surveillance Video Sources
Independent witnesses provide crucial testimony. Your lawyer can send preservation letters to businesses and residences demanding that they save video before deletion. Look for cameras at gas stations, banks, stores, and traffic intersections.
Surveillance systems often overwrite footage quickly, so collect or request video evidence as soon as possible.
Vehicle Data EDR And Dashcam Or Tesla Footage
Event Data Recorders are black boxes that record speed, braking, and steering data. Dashcams and Tesla Sentry Mode can capture license plates and driver behavior. Your attorney can help obtain this data legally.
Photos, Damage Patterns, and Medical Documentation
Photograph paint transfer, impact points, and vehicle damage from multiple angles. Document visible injuries daily as bruising develops. Keep all medical imaging and doctors’ notes that link injuries to the crash.
What Happens To Your Claim If The Driver Is Identified
If police locate the hit-and-run driver, your claim proceeds like a standard car accident case against their liability insurance. Criminal charges against the driver are separate from your civil injury claim.
You don’t need to wait for a conviction to pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and vehicle repairs. Having a police report that shows the driver fled strengthens your claim by demonstrating a consciousness of guilt.
How To Seek Compensation If The Driver Is Never Found
Even if the hit and run Bakersfield, CA driver escapes, you have uninsured motorist options through your own insurance policy. These coverages may help:
Uninsured Motorist Coverage For Bodily Injuries
Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury coverage protects you when at-fault drivers have no insurance or can’t be identified. Under California law, this applies to hit-and-run crashes. It covers medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Property Damage Options Collision And UMPD
Collision coverage repairs your vehicle regardless of fault, but requires paying your deductible. Uninsured Motorist Property Damage has strict conditions and often requires identifying the other vehicle. Most victims use Collision for faster repairs.
How Medical Payments Coverage May Help
Medical Payments is no-fault coverage that pays medical bills up to policy limits. It helps with immediate out-of-pocket costs while other claims are pending.
What Damages Can You Recover After A Hit And Run In Bakersfield
After a hit and run accident in Bakersfield, California, personal injury law allows you to recover compensation for all losses caused by the at-fault driver. Your recovery will typically be sought through the driver’s insurance, if found, or through your own Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage. These recoverable losses are split into two primary categories.
Economic Damages (Financial Losses)
Economic damages are quantifiable financial losses resulting from the accident. The calculation of these damages is based on bills, invoices, and verifiable records.
Medical Expenses
This includes the entire spectrum of healthcare costs. This covers emergency care, hospitalization, surgical procedures, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and the cost of prescriptions or necessary medical devices.
Lost Income and Earning Capacity
You are entitled to recover income lost from time missed at work during your recovery. This also includes compensation for a reduced earning capacity if your injuries permanently affect your ability to perform your job, as well as losses for self-employed individuals.
Property Damage
This covers the cost of repairing or replacing your damaged vehicle. It also includes the value of any other personal items that were damaged or destroyed in the crash.
Non-Economic Damages (Intangible Losses)
Non-economic damages compensate you for the subjective, non-monetary impact the accident has had on your life.
Pain and Suffering
This is compensation for the physical pain you endure, as well as the emotional trauma, anxiety, depression, and mental anguish caused by the crash and your recovery.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
This category covers the inability to pursue your hobbies, recreational activities, or participate in the normal aspects of your life due to your injuries.
Punitive Damages
While rare, punitive damages may be available in specific cases, such as those involving a drunk driving hit and run driver, to punish the reckless behavior and deter others.
Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers meticulously documents all of your financial and personal losses. We work with medical and economic experts to thoroughly prove the full value of your claim, ensuring you receive the maximum recovery you are entitled to.
What Are The Deadlines For California Hit And Run Claims
Missing deadlines can permanently bar recovery. California has strict time limits called statutes of limitations.
Two-Year Injury Deadline And Three-Year Property Deadline
Personal injury claims must be filed within 2-year injury deadline from the crash date. Property damage claims have a three-year statute of limitations. Filing late means losing all rights to compensation.
Government Claims And Six Six-Month Notice Rule
If a government entity might be liable for defective traffic signals, dangerous road design, or government vehicles, you must file an administrative 6-month government claim.
Insurance policies have their own notice requirements, often “prompt” or “reasonable” notice. Delaying can give insurers grounds to deny coverage.
How To Avoid Common Insurance Pitfalls After A Hit And Run
Insurance companies, even your own, may minimize payouts after a car accident attorney in Bakersfield gets involved. Common pitfalls include:
Recorded statements:
Never give one without attorney guidance because words can be twisted
Quick settlements:
Early offers rarely cover future medical needs or full losses
Medical authorizations:
Broad forms let insurers fish through unrelated medical history
Social media:
Posts about activities can be used to claim you’re not injured
Keep all documents organized and consult a Bakersfield hit-and-run lawyer before signing anything or accepting offers.
When Should You Call A Bakersfield Hit And Run Lawyer
While you may not need legal assistance for every minor fender-bender, a hit-and-run accident often involves complex legal and insurance hurdles that demand an experienced attorney. It’s crucial to call a lawyer when the stakes are high, the liability is unclear, or the insurance companies become difficult.
Situations Requiring Legal Help
There are several key circumstances in a hit and run case where retaining an experienced attorney is essential to protect your rights and ensure fair compensation.
Catastrophic Injury
If you or a passenger suffered any serious or catastrophic injury requiring significant medical treatment, hospitalization, or long-term rehabilitation, you need a lawyer. These high-value claims involve complex damage calculations and aggressive defense by insurers.
Unidentified Driver
If the hit and run driver remains unidentified after the initial police investigation, your claim will rely solely on your own Uninsured Motorist (UM) policy. A lawyer is necessary to hold your own insurance company accountable and ensure they pay what your policy guarantees, rather than what they want to pay.
Insurance Disputes and Lowball Offers
You should call an attorney if your insurer disputes coverage, attempts to deny your claim, or offers compensation that you know is inadequate to cover your medical bills and lost wages. Insurance companies are businesses, and their primary goal is to minimize payouts.
Complex Policy Issues
When multiple insurance policies might apply to your situation (for instance, if you were a pedestrian, driving a company car, or relying on a secondary policy), an attorney can navigate the policy stacking and subrogation issues to maximize your recovery. You also need a lawyer if you are receiving conflicting information about your rights from various parties or insurance adjusters.
We immediately send evidence-preservation letters to businesses and government agencies, coordinate with police investigations, handle all complex insurance negotiations, and protect you from common tactics that could harm your claim. Don’t go through this complex process alone.
Don’t Wait, Protect Your Rights Now
Every day matters because evidence disappears, witnesses forget details, and deadlines approach. The sooner you act, the stronger your case will be.
Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers offers consultations and provides services in both English and Spanish. We’re local to Bakersfield and Kern County courts with decades of experience.
Contact our Bakersfield car accident lawyer team for a free, confidential case review today.
Hit And Run In Bakersfield FAQs
What Do Police Do After A Hit And Run In Bakersfield?
BPD and CHP collect witness statements, examine physical evidence like paint transfer, canvas for surveillance footage, and may issue alerts for the suspect vehicle. Provide officers with all details you documented and your medical provider information to establish injury causation.
Can I Use Uninsured Motorist Coverage If The Driver Is Not Found?
Yes, California law allows explicitly uninsured motorist bodily injury claims when hit-and-run drivers remain unidentified. Property damage typically requires collision coverage unless your policy has special UMPD provisions.
Do I Need to File a DMV SR-1 and When?
California requires filing the DMV Form SR-1 within 10 days if anyone was injured or total property damage exceeds $1,000
