Hit & Run Defense · Los Angeles County
Los Angeles Hit & Run Attorney
Contacted by an Investigator?
Civil compromise. Prefile rejection. Knowledge-element defense.
Daniel S. RubinHit & Run Defense Attorney
01 — Quick Facts
Hit & Run — At a Glance
02 — The Law
What California Requires After an Accident
California drivers involved in any accident have three duties under Vehicle Code §20003: stop at the scene, provide identifying information (name, address, license, registration), and render reasonable assistance if injury occurred. Violation of these duties creates hit-and-run liability under VC §20001 (injury) or VC §20002 (property damage).
The crime is the failure to stop and identify — not being at fault in the accident. Prosecutors must prove you knew (or reasonably should have known) an accident occurred and knowingly failed to comply. That knowledge element is where most hit-and-run cases are won.
03 — Penalties
Hit-and-Run Penalties in California — What You Are Facing
| Offense | Statute | Classification | Jail / Prison | Fine | DMV Points | License Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Property Damage | VC §20002 | Misdemeanor | Up to 6 months jail | Up to $1,000 | 2 points | No suspension |
| Injury — Misdemeanor | VC §20001 | Misdemeanor | Up to 1 year jail | $1,000 – $10,000 | 2 points | Possible |
| Injury — Felony | VC §20001 | Felony | 16 mo, 2, or 3 yrs prison | $1,000 – $10,000 | 2 points | Suspension |
| Permanent Injury / Death | VC §20001(b)(2) | Felony | 2, 3, or 4 yrs prison | $1,000 – $10,000 | 2 points | Revocation |
| Failure to Report | VC §20008 | Misdemeanor | Up to 6 months jail | Up to $1,000 | 1 point | No suspension |
| Companion — DUI | VC §23152 | Wobbler | Up to 4 yrs prison (felony) | Up to $1,000+ | 2 points | 6-mo to 4-yr susp. |
Restitution is mandatory — vehicle repair, medical bills, and wage loss are enforceable through the criminal judgment. Uninsured hit-and-run cases routinely produce five- and six-figure enforceable judgments that survive bankruptcy.
Additional Consequences Beyond the Courtroom
- Insurance rates increase 50–200% for 3–7 years
- Civil liability — the victim can sue for the same conduct
- License suspension or revocation on injury cases
- Ineligible for many CDL / commercial driving positions
- Immigration: crime of moral turpitude in most injury cases
- Professional-license discipline (nursing, teaching, security)
- Vehicle impoundment for 30 days under VC §22651
- Employment background exposure — visible without expungement
04 — Defense Strategies
How We Fight Hit-and-Run Cases
No Knowledge
The People must prove you knew (or should have known) an accident occurred.
- Minor impacts, distracted driving, and highway noise defeat knowledge.
Civil Compromise
For eligible VC §20002 cases, restitution to the victim can produce dismissal under civil compromise.
Prefile Advocacy
Voluntary appearance, insurance handoff, and mitigation before filing can produce DA rejection.
Identity Attack
Vehicle plates, dash-cam angles, and ID methods are often shaky.
- We litigate identity.
17(b) Reduction
Wobbler §20001 injury cases reduce to misdemeanors at prelim or sentencing — eliminating prison exposure.
Insurance Coordination
Coordinated civil resolution eliminates the private-party grievance that drives most §20002 filings.
05 — Charge Types
Hit-and-Run Filings We Defend
Property Damage Hit & Run
Parked-car, mirror, or minor-collision cases. Civil compromise typically available.
Learn moreInjury Hit & Run
Any injury — even minor — triggers wobbler exposure. Filing decision is critical.
Learn moreDeath or Permanent Injury
Straight felony. 2, 3, or 4 years prison. Often paired with vehicular manslaughter.
Learn moreCommon companion filing after DUI arrests where an accident is alleged.
Learn moreCommercial Vehicle Hit & Run
CDL holders face enhanced professional consequences beyond the criminal case.
Learn morePrior Hit & Run Priors
Enhancement
Prior hit-and-run convictions can enhance filing and sentencing.
06 — Possible Outcomes
Possible Outcomes in a Hit-and-Run Case
Case Dismissed or Not Filed
The best possible outcome — no conviction, no record.
- Prefile rejection where knowledge of the collision cannot be proven
- Suppression of unlawful vehicle inspections and interrogations
- DA rejection on identity — driver-vs-registered-owner defenses
Reduced Charges
- Felony VC §20001 reduced to misdemeanor VC §20002
- Restitution-based civil-compromise resolutions under PC §1377
- Traffic-infraction plea in lieu of misdemeanor conviction
Minimized Sentence
If a conviction cannot be avoided, we fight for the lowest possible exposure.
- No-jail probation with restitution and community service
- DMV point mitigation to protect the license
- Traffic school and license-preservation orders
Diversion & Alternative Resolutions
- Judicial diversion under PC §1001.95 for eligible misdemeanors
- Civil compromise under PC §1377 with the injured party
- Mental-health diversion under PC §1001.36 where applicable
07 — Collateral Consequences
Beyond Court
- DMV points and negligent-operator suspension exposure
- Insurance rate increase and possible non-renewal
- CDL and commercial-driving disqualification
- Immigration: crime involving moral turpitude on many theories
- Restitution enforceable as a civil judgment for 20+ years
- Employment background check disclosure
- Rideshare and delivery platform deactivation
- Companion DUI exposure in impaired-driving cases
08 — FAQs
Hit and Run Questions — Los Angeles
What counts as a hit and run in California?
Any accident — even minor property contact — where the driver failed to stop and exchange identifying information under VC §20003. VC §20001 covers injury cases; VC §20002 covers property-damage cases including unoccupied vehicles.
Is hit and run a felony?
VC §20002 (property damage) is always a misdemeanor. VC §20001 (injury) is a wobbler — misdemeanor or felony at the DA's discretion. §20001(b)(2) (permanent injury or death) is a straight felony carrying prison.
Can hit and run be dismissed?
Yes. Property-damage cases are frequently resolved by civil compromise under PC §1377 when full restitution is paid. Prefile intervention, knowledge-element defense, and §17(b) reduction all provide dismissal or reduction paths.
What if I didn't know I hit anything?
Knowledge is required. If the People cannot prove you knew (or reasonably should have known) an accident occurred, the case fails. Minor contact, low-speed impacts, and highway-noise defenses regularly defeat knowledge.
Do I have to be at fault to be charged?
No. Hit and run punishes the failure to stop and identify — not fault in the accident. You can be charged with hit and run even if the other driver caused the collision.
What is civil compromise?
Under PC §1377, misdemeanor cases involving injury or property damage to a private victim may be dismissed when the victim acknowledges receipt of full compensation and requests dismissal. Available for many VC §20002 cases; unavailable in DV, DUI, and public-official contexts.
How long do prosecutors have to file?
One year for misdemeanor hit and run (VC §20002); three years for felony hit and run (VC §20001). The statute of limitations tolls upon issuance of an arrest warrant.
Will I lose my license?
Possibly. Hit-and-run convictions carry DMV points, which can trigger negligent-operator suspension under VC §12810. Companion DUI or driving-on-suspended charges add further license consequences.