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California leads the nation in hit-and-run accidents, and Santa Ana is one of the hardest-hit cities in Orange County. A combination of high uninsured driver rates, dense urban traffic, and heavy pedestrian activity creates conditions where drivers who cause crashes are more likely to flee the scene than almost anywhere else in the state. If you were the victim of a hit and run or any car accident in Santa Ana, a Santa Ana car accident lawyer at Babaians Law Firm will investigate every avenue of recovery and fight for the full compensation you deserve under California law.
Santa Ana has consistently higher hit-and-run rates than neighboring Orange County cities, and the reasons are tied to the city’s demographics, road design, and traffic patterns:
High uninsured driver rates: Santa Ana’s uninsured motorist rate is significantly above the Orange County average. Drivers without insurance are far more likely to flee a crash scene because they know that staying means facing both civil liability and criminal penalties for driving without coverage.
Dense urban traffic on surface streets: Bristol Street, First Street, 17th Street, and Main Street carry high volumes of passenger vehicles, commercial trucks, delivery vans, and cyclists through a compact grid where crashes happen frequently and fleeing is easy due to multiple escape routes.
Interstate 5 and State Route 55: freeway hit-and-run crashes are harder to investigate because drivers can exit quickly and disappear into surrounding neighborhoods or cities before witnesses can record plate numbers.
High pedestrian and cyclist activity: Santa Ana’s walkable downtown grid and residential neighborhoods see significant foot and bicycle traffic, and pedestrian hit-and-run crashes are disproportionately common in the city.
Nighttime and impaired driving: a significant percentage of hit-and-run crashes in Santa Ana occur between 8 PM and 3 AM, correlating with impaired driving patterns.
California Vehicle Code Section 20001 makes it a felony to leave the scene of an accident that results in injury or death. Section 20002 makes it a misdemeanor to leave the scene of an accident involving only property damage. These criminal penalties exist to deter drivers from fleeing, but they do not directly compensate victims. Your right to financial recovery depends on identifying the driver, accessing your own insurance coverage, or both. A Santa Ana car accident lawyer at Babaians Law Firm will pursue every available path to compensation.
Even when the at-fault driver cannot be identified, you may still have significant sources of compensation available:
Uninsured motorist coverage: your own UM policy is designed for exactly this situation. In California, UM coverage applies when the at-fault driver is unidentified or has no insurance. Your insurer steps into the position of the at-fault driver and must pay your damages up to your policy limit. For a full breakdown of how UM coverage works, read our guide on what happens if you get into an accident with an uninsured driver in California. Medical payments coverage: if your auto policy includes MedPay, it will cover your medical expenses regardless of fault, up to your policy limit.
Identified driver cases: if the hit-and-run driver is later identified through witness statements, camera footage, paint transfer analysis, or police investigation, you can pursue a direct claim against them and their insurer.
Third-party liability: in some hit-and-run cases, a third party shares liability. For example, if the fleeing driver was on the job, their employer may be liable. If a road defect contributed to the crash, the city or county may be responsible.
When you file a UM claim after a hit and run, your own insurance company becomes your adversary. They owe you coverage under your policy, but their goal is still to pay as little as possible. They will question whether the hit and run actually occurred, dispute the severity of your injuries, and argue that your medical treatment was excessive or unrelated to the crash. For guidance on handling these negotiations, read our article on how to negotiate with an insurance adjuster after a car accident in California. A Santa Ana car accident lawyer at Babaians Law Firm will handle all communications with your insurer and fight for the full policy limit you are entitled to.
California law allows injured hit-and-run victims to pursue the full spectrum of economic and non-economic damages, whether the claim is against the identified driver or through your own UM coverage:
You should not have to absorb the cost of someone else’s decision to flee the scene. Our Santa Ana car accident lawyers at Babaians Law Firm will investigate every source of compensation, preserve surveillance footage before it is overwritten, and handle your UM claim from start to finish. No upfront cost. No fee unless we win. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
Call 911 and file a police report immediately. Photograph your vehicle damage, any debris or paint transfer from the other vehicle, and every visible injury. Get witness contact information and ask nearby businesses about security camera footage. Go to the emergency room the same day. File a claim under your uninsured motorist coverage as soon as possible and contact a Santa Ana car accident lawyer before surveillance footage is overwritten.
Yes. Your own uninsured motorist coverage is designed for this exact situation. UM coverage applies when the at-fault driver is unidentified, and your insurer must pay your damages up to your policy limit. MedPay coverage, if included in your policy, will also cover medical expenses regardless of fault. Babaians Law Firm will pursue every available source of compensation on your behalf.
Settlement value depends on injury severity and available coverage. Minor injury cases with UM coverage often settle between $15,000 and $75,000. Cases involving fractures, surgery, or extended rehabilitation typically settle between $100,000 and $400,000. Serious cases with permanent injuries can result in settlements of $500,000 or more, depending on your UM policy limits and whether the at-fault driver is eventually identified.
Two years from the date of the accident for personal injury under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1. However, your UM policy may require you to report the claim within a shorter timeframe specified in your policy terms. Physical evidence and surveillance footage has a practical preservation window of 24 to 72 hours. Acting immediately is critical in hit-and-run cases.
Under California Vehicle Code Section 20001, leaving the scene of an accident that results in injury or death is a felony punishable by up to four years in state prison. Leaving the scene of a property-damage-only accident is a misdemeanor under Section 20002. These criminal penalties are separate from your civil right to pursue compensation for your injuries and damages.
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This distinction matters enormously for what your case is worth, and getting it wrong can cost an injured person real money. At Babaians Law Firm,
At Babaians Law Firm, we represent injured clients throughout Rancho Cucamonga and the Inland Empire, from the foothills neighborhoods near the 210 to the busy commercial
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Great female led personal injury firm with good results and settlements. I highly recommend this law firm for personal injury related matters in Los Angeles and California in general.