How Can You Recover Damages After a Glendale Hit-and-Run?

A hit-and-run on Brand Boulevard or the 134 in Glendale leaves you hurt and, it can feel, without anyone to hold responsible. But a fleeing driver does not necessarily mean no recovery — the path just runs through a different policy than you might expect.

Your own uninsured-motorist coverage is the key

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage on your own auto policy is designed for exactly this situation — including hit-and-run crashes where the at-fault driver is never identified. If you carry UM coverage, you can often file a claim with your own insurer to cover injuries the missing driver caused.

The steps that protect a UM claim

UM claims have their own rules. Reporting the hit-and-run to police promptly, notifying your insurer quickly, and documenting the crash all matter — some policies require prompt reporting and physical-contact evidence in hit-and-run cases. Missing these steps can jeopardize an otherwise valid claim.

Finding the driver is still worth trying

Even after a driver flees, they are sometimes identified through nearby business cameras, traffic cameras, witnesses, or debris and paint transfer. If the driver is found and insured, their liability coverage may come into play alongside — or instead of — your UM claim.

Your insurer is not automatically on your side

A UM claim is against your own insurance company, and it will still scrutinize the claim and may undervalue it. Having the crash properly documented and the claim properly presented protects you from being shortchanged by your own carrier.

Local details for Glendale

• County: Los Angeles County
• Where a case is filed: A Glendale hit-and-run case is generally filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court's North Central District (Glendale/Burbank).
• Key deadline: Generally 2 years (CCP § 335.1); UM claims also have their own policy notice deadlines, often much shorter.
• Government claim deadline: If the claim is against a city, county, transit agency, school district, or other public entity, a written claim must first be presented to that entity within six months (Government Code § 911.2).

Glendale's busy corridors — Brand and Central Boulevards, Colorado Street, and the 134 (Ventura Freeway) and 2 (Glendale Freeway) — are common hit-and-run settings. Injured people are often taken to Adventist Health Glendale. Because UM policies impose their own prompt-reporting requirements, notifying police and your insurer quickly is especially important here.

Updated October 2026.

Official Sources

• California Legislative Information (statutes (CCP, Veh/Civ/Gov Code))
• California Courts Self-Help (court process/deadlines)

Key Points at a Glance

Topic	Key Point
Uninsured Motorist Coverage	Your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage can cover injuries from a hit-and-run crash when the at-fault driver is never identified.
Protecting a UM Claim	Claimants must report the crash to police promptly, notify their insurer quickly, and document the crash, as some policies require evidence of physical contact.
Locating the Fleeing Driver	Drivers may be identified through business or traffic cameras, witnesses, or debris and paint transfer, which allows their liability coverage to come into play.
Insurer Scrutiny	Because a UM claim is against your own insurer, the company will still scrutinize and may undervalue the claim.
Glendale Local Details	Cases are generally filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court North Central District and carry a general 2-year deadline under CCP § 335.1, as well as policy notice deadlines.

Frequently asked questions

Can I recover if the driver who hit me fled?

Often yes — through the uninsured-motorist (UM) coverage on your own auto policy, which is designed to cover hit-and-run injuries.

What do I need to do to protect a UM claim?

Report the hit-and-run to police promptly, notify your own insurer quickly, and document the crash; some policies require prompt reporting and evidence of contact.

Is a UM claim against the other driver?

No — it's a claim against your own insurance company, which will still evaluate and may undervalue it, so proper documentation matters.

Related reading

• Our Hit and Run practice
• Hit-and-run accidents in Los Angeles: an introduction
• Talk to a Glendale injury attorney

This article is attorney advertising and provides general information only — it is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. For advice about your situation, speak with a licensed attorney.