Legally Reviewed by Phillip Younglove, Esq. on August 5, 2026
Newport Beach Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer
California law requires every driver involved in an accident to stop, exchange information, and render reasonable assistance. Despite this legal duty, drivers in Newport Beach sometimes flee the scene of a crash to avoid criminal penalties, higher insurance premiums, or simply because they panic. When that happens, victims are often left dealing with serious injuries while facing genuine uncertainty about how they will recover the compensation they need.
At Younglove Law Group, our Newport Beach personal injury attorneys have recovered over $60 million for injured clients throughout California, bringing more than 20 years of combined legal experience to hit-and-run accident claims. We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win.
⚠ Time-Sensitive — California Law Limits Your Window to File
California’s statute of limitations for hit-and-run injury claims is generally two years from the date of the accident.
Younglove Law Group has recovered over $60 million for injured Californians over more than 20 years of combined legal experience. We handle hit-and-run cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win.
Call (949) 691-3660 for a Free Consultation
California’s Duty to Stop After an Accident
Under California Vehicle Code Section 20002, every driver involved in an accident is legally obligated to stop, exchange information with the other parties, and provide reasonable assistance to anyone injured. A driver who flees the scene without doing so faces criminal penalties on top of any civil liability for your injuries, but that criminal exposure does not automatically make your civil claim any easier to pursue.
What Insurance Will and Will Not Cover After a Newport Beach Hit-and-Run
Many people assume their own auto insurance will simply cover a hit-and-run injury, but the reality depends heavily on which coverages you carry and what each one is actually designed to pay for.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Uninsured motorist coverage is optional in California, but if you carry it, it covers your bodily injuries in an accident involving an uninsured, underinsured, or hit-and-run driver. This coverage applies only to bodily injury, not to damage to your vehicle or other property, and pays up to your policy’s limit.
Liability Insurance Coverage
Liability insurance covers injuries and property damage you cause to someone else. It does not cover your own injuries or vehicle damage, which means your own liability coverage will not help you after a hit-and-run where you were the victim.
Collision Coverage
Collision coverage, often required by lenders, pays to repair or replace your vehicle after an accident regardless of who was at fault, including a hit-and-run. It does not cover medical expenses, only vehicle damage, and you will still owe your deductible.
Medical Payments Coverage
Medical payments coverage, often called MedPay, is an optional add-on that can cover medical costs such as procedures, equipment, and rehabilitation after an accident. MedPay does not cover vehicle damage, and coverage is limited to your policy’s maximum and, in some cases, a specific window of time after the accident.
Common Locations for Hit-and-Run Accidents in Newport Beach
Hit-and-run incidents tend to cluster in certain settings in Newport Beach. Late-night traffic near the harbor’s waterfront restaurants and bars along Mariners’ Mile sees a higher share of impaired drivers fleeing after a collision. The Balboa Peninsula’s narrow, pedestrian-heavy streets create conditions where a driver may strike a pedestrian or cyclist and leave before being identified. Pacific Coast Highway’s higher speeds also make it harder for a victim to note identifying details before the fleeing vehicle is gone.
What to Do If You Are the Victim of a Hit-and-Run in Newport Beach
- Seek emergency medical treatment if needed. Your health comes first, and prompt treatment also creates the medical record your claim will depend on.
- Write down everything you remember while it is fresh. Note the color, make, and model of the other vehicle, the license plate number if you saw any part of it, and a description of the driver.
- Talk to witnesses immediately. Ask what they saw and get their contact information before they leave the scene.
- Photograph your vehicle’s damage and your injuries. This documentation supports both your insurance claim and any eventual civil case.
- Notify the police and file a report. A police report is essential evidence, and officers may be able to use nearby cameras or witness statements to help identify the driver.
- Contact Younglove Law Group promptly. Our attorneys work with investigators to pull traffic and business surveillance footage, which is often overwritten within days, and to identify every insurance source that may be available to you.
How Our Attorneys Help Track Down the Responsible Driver
A hit-and-run does not mean the driver can never be identified. Our attorneys work with law enforcement, review any available traffic and business surveillance footage, and canvass for witnesses to help establish who was responsible. Even when the driver cannot be identified, your own uninsured motorist coverage may still provide a path to compensation, provided the vehicle made contact with you.
What Compensation Is Available After a Hit-and-Run Accident
California law allows injured victims to pursue both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover emergency treatment, hospitalization, ongoing rehabilitation, future medical care, lost wages, and vehicle damage. Non-economic damages compensate for pain and suffering and the emotional impact of your injuries. If the driver is eventually identified and located, punitive damages may also be available given the reckless nature of fleeing the scene.
Statute of Limitations for Newport Beach Hit-and-Run Claims
Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1, most hit-and-run injury claims must be filed within two years of the date of the accident. This deadline applies whether your claim proceeds against an identified driver or through your own uninsured motorist coverage, so prompt action is important even while the driver’s identity remains unknown.
Contact Younglove Law Group as soon as possible after your accident to protect your rights.
Frequently Asked Questions About Newport Beach Hit-and-Run Accidents
What if the driver who hit me is never identified?
If the driver cannot be identified, your own uninsured motorist coverage can provide compensation for your bodily injuries, provided the vehicle made contact with you and you carry this optional coverage. Our attorneys review your policy to determine what coverage may apply and pursue every available avenue.
Is leaving the scene of an accident a crime in California?
Yes. Failing to stop, exchange information, and render assistance after an accident is a criminal offense under California Vehicle Code Section 20002. That said, the criminal case against the driver, if one occurs, is separate from your civil claim for compensation, and you do not need to wait for a criminal outcome to pursue your own case.
Does my liability insurance cover my injuries if I was the victim?
No. Liability insurance covers injuries and damage you cause to others, not your own losses. If you were the victim of a hit-and-run, your own liability coverage will not help your claim, which is why uninsured motorist, collision, and MedPay coverage are so important in these cases.
What if witnesses saw the accident but I did not get their information?
Our attorneys can canvass the area, request nearby business surveillance footage, and in some cases work with law enforcement to locate witnesses even after the fact. Acting quickly significantly improves the odds of finding this kind of supporting evidence before it disappears.
How long do I have to file a hit-and-run claim in California?
Most hit-and-run injury claims must be filed within two years of the date of the accident under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1. This applies whether you are pursuing an identified driver or your own uninsured motorist coverage.
How much does it cost to hire a Newport Beach hit-and-run lawyer?
Younglove Law Group handles all hit-and-run cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you, and we advance all costs of investigating your claim. If your case does not resolve in your favor, you owe us nothing.
Call (949) 691-3660 for a Free Consultation
We are available 24/7. We care about your situation and want you to understand your legal options.
Younglove Law Group also handles Newport Beach car accident claims, pedestrian accident claims, motorcycle accident claims, and wrongful death claims throughout the city.
- Client satisfaction is our top priority.
- We pride ourselves on responsiveness and always get back to you the same day you contact us.
- We are a real law firm, not a referral service.
- Your case will be handled by experienced legal professionals.
- Your case will not be passed around with repeated changes to your primary contact.
Contact Younglove Law Group’s Newport Beach Hit-and-Run Attorneys
Attorney Phillip Younglove earned his J.D. from USC Gould School of Law and his B.A. from UCLA. Before founding Younglove Law Group, he spent years as an insurance defense attorney representing carriers, giving our clients firsthand insight into how insurers evaluate uninsured motorist and hit-and-run claims. That background, combined with over $60 million recovered for injured clients and recognition from Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, means your claim is handled by attorneys who understand exactly how the other side builds its defense.
If you or a family member was injured in a hit-and-run accident anywhere in Newport Beach, contact Younglove Law Group for a free consultation. Our attorneys will evaluate your case, explain your options, and begin building the strongest possible claim on your behalf.
