Orange County Hit and Run Accident Attorneys
Hit and Run Accident Lawyers in California
California has the unfortunate distinction of leading the nation in hit and run car accidents. Additionally, California ranks number one in hit and run fatalities in the U.S. As a public safety issue, the numbers seem to be moving in the wrong direction and increasing each year.
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Steps After a Hit and Run Accident
If you were involved in a hit and run accident, you are likely overwhelmed, scared, and possibly injured. Here are the steps you need to take immediately and in the following days and weeks after a hit and run accident.
- Immediately After the Accident. If possible, move your car to a safe location away from traffic. Check to see if there are any injuries and contact 911 immediately. If the other party left the scene, it is imperative to get a police report to document the hit-and-run accident for your insurance company. A police officer will create an official police report of the incident and an ambulance will provide emergency medical care for anyone who needs it. Attempt to provide as much information to the police officer as possible. If you can remember the make, model, and color of the car that left the scene of the accident, along with any unique identifying marks, such as bumper stickers or dents, it will help with the investigation. Additionally, if you were able to obtain the license plate number or anything related to the driver’s appearance, remember to tell the police officer so that they can include it in the official report. An important tip is to have the police officer truly investigate the scene of the accident. Oftentimes, a paint chip or a broken-off piece of the other driver’s car can be useful to the investigation. Always request that the officer make a complete report of the hit-and-run accident.
- Following the Accident. Always seek medical attention if you are injured. This will also document your personal injuries as diagnosed by a medical professional for your insurance carrier. Your next step is to file a claim with your insurance company. California’s statute of limitations allows you up to two years to file a claim for a hit-and-run accident, but the sooner you file a claim the better. If you have uninsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage on your auto insurance policy, you can recover damages for your injuries from your own insurance carrier (without it affecting your insurance policy costs) in a hit-and-run accident as long as you immediately filed a police report documenting the hit-and-run accident. It is imperative that you file a police report at the time of the hit-and-run accident. California law requires that your insurance rates cannot go up after a documented hit-and-run claim.
What is a Hit and Run Accident?
A hit and run accident is an accident in which the driver of a vehicle leaves the scene of the accident without stopping to identify themselves to either the other driver or the police. California law requires that the drivers of all vehicles in an accident identify themselves.
Some examples of a hit and run accident are as follows: someone hits a parked car and does not leave a note with identification; someone rear-ends another vehicle in traffic and drives away; or someone is involved in an accident and leaves the scene without providing “reasonable assistance” to those needing medical attention (such as calling the police and requesting an ambulance) or identifying themselves.
It is important to note that whether a driver is at fault does not matter, any driver leaving the scene of an accident can be charged with a hit and run offense.
An Orange County Attorney Experienced in Hit and Run Cases
If you were injured in a hit and run car accident, you have the right to compensation for your injuries. If the fleeing driver is not found, there are still legal options available to you to receive compensation, such as your own uninsured motorist (UM/UIM) auto policy. Because these hit-and-run claims with your own insurance can become complicated, it can be imperative to hire an experienced attorney to handle the uninsured (UM/UIM) motorist claim.
Our experienced attorneys can negotiate with insurance companies and represent you in court if they fail to provide you a fair settlement. For a complimentary consultation of your case, contact the experienced Orange County personal injury attorneys at Easton & Easton at 800-461-8259 today.
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Easton & Easton has been recognized by TopVerdict.com Top 10 Motor Vehicle Accident Settlement in Los Angeles for 2025, for the case Bicyclist v. Inattentive Driver — the fifth time the firm has appeared on a TopVerdict list across nine years, and a recognition that arrives in the firm’s 35th anniversary year.
Easton & Easton holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau — the highest rating available. Trust is earned. We've earned it.
Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen anew each year since 2014 by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers as one of the "Best Law Firms" for the Southern California Metro Area.
Easton & Easton was voted #1 in 2025 (People's Choice Award). This recognition means the most to us — because it comes from the community we serve.
Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton were selected to the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 — an invitation-only organization recognizing the nation's premier trial attorneys. Selection is based on case results, leadership, and reputation. When you need attorneys who are ready for the courtroom, you want a team that's already proven they belong there.
All five partners of Easton & Easton — Doug, Brian, Matt, Travis, and Gabe — were selected to Best Lawyers in America® 2025. This is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. Selection is based entirely on peer review, representing the consensus opinion among leading lawyers in the community. When other attorneys are asked who they trust, they name us.
Our $4.5M settlement in Dump Truck Operator v. Equipment Rental Co. has been recognized as #1 in California for 2025 in two categories: • #1 Paraplegia Settlement in California — 2025 • #1 Rollover Accident Settlement in California — 2025
Our $4.5M settlement in Dump Truck Operator v. Equipment Rental Co. has been recognized as #1 in California for 2025 in two categories: • #1 Paraplegia Settlement in California — 2025 • #1 Rollover Accident Settlement in California — 2025
We were recently honored for our efforts in securing a $32,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as the #1 Bicycle Accident Settlement in California in 2024 by TopVerdict.com.
Easton & Easton was named a Tier 1 firm in Southern California by U.S. News & World Report — the highest ranking a law firm can achieve. Selection is based on client feedback, peer reputation, and professional excellence. When independent evaluators rank the best, we're at the top.
Gabe Mendoza, Alexandro Garza, John Oney, Billy Seidlitz, and Aaron Sinfield were selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars — honoring the top 2.5% of attorneys 40 or younger in California. Three attorneys — John, Billy, and Aaron — were selected for the first time in 2027. The next generation of Easton & Easton is already among the best in the state.
Easton & Easton was voted "Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Orange County" by readers of the Los Angeles Times in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Three years in a row — chosen by the people we serve
Doug, Brian, Matt, Travis, and Saul were selected to Super Lawyers — a distinction earned by only 5% of California attorneys. Selection is based on peer nominations, independent research, and professional achievement. Doug Easton has been selected for 19 consecutive years. Matt Easton was also named to the Top 50 Orange County Super Lawyers for 2027. When you hire Easton & Easton, you're hiring attorneys in the top 5%.
Easton & Easton was recently honored for securing a $26,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as a Top 10 Personal Injury Settlement in California in 2023 by TopVerdict.com.
Easton & Easton received the "People Love Us On Yelp" award in 2016 due to exceptional client satisfaction reviews.Our clients don't just hire us — they recommend us.
Easton & Easton was recently honored for securing a $32,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as one of the Top 20 Personal Injury Settlements in the entire United States in 2024 by TopVerdict.com.
Brian, Matt, and Travis Easton are lifetime members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum — a distinction held by less than 1% of U.S. attorneys. Membership requires securing a verdict or settlement of $2 million or more. When you hire Easton & Easton, you're hiring proven results - because Results Matter.
Doug Easton has held the "AV Preeminent" Rating for over 30 years, and Matt Easton received this prestigious distinction in 2015. The AV Preeminent rating is the highest possible rating for both legal ability and ethical standards, based on the legal profession's oldest peer review rating system — dating back to 1887. When your peers have trusted your ability and integrity for over three decades, that says everything.
We were recently honored for securing a $26,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as a the #1 Personal Injury Settlement in Los Angeles County in 2023 by TopVerdict.com.
Brian Easton was selected to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in 2015. ABOTA is one of the most premier associations of trial attorneys and judges, requiring a proven track record of jury trials as lead counsel and approval by a majority vote of the ABOTA board. Membership isn't given — it's earned in the courtroom.
Travis Easton, Gabe Mendoza, and Brenda Kocaj were selected to the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 — an invitation-only honor recognizing the nation's top young trial attorneys. At Easton & Easton, experience and ambition work side by side.
Easton & Easton was honored for securing a $20,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as one of the Top 10 Personal Injury Settlements in the entire United States in 2019 by TopVerdict.com.
Both Doug and Matt Easton have been selected as Top Personal Injury Attorneys by Avvo with scores of 10 out of 10 — based on skill, experience, results, peer evaluations, and client reviews. A perfect score. No room for higher.
Easton & Easton was honored to have been chosen by the LA Times Reader's Choice Poll as "The Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Orange County" for 2018-2020 (each year the voting took place).
We were recently honored for our efforts in securing a $1,850,000 verdict for a client, which was selected as one of the Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California in 2016 by TopVerdict.com.
20+ prestigious awards and recognitions. Exposed to the harshest scrutiny. Earning the highest honors. Recognized by every major legal organization — year after year.
Awards/recognitions noted are from organizations recognized within the legal profession as bona fide.
No purchase was required for selection. Selection methodologies available upon request.
*Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
“We look for the human story behind every injury or wrongful death. We prepare our cases for trial; reaching out to the jury with the most compelling evidence possible for the best verdict possible. Insurance companies know this and come to the table prepared to negotiate in good faith. Call us to see how we can turn your story into fair compensation.”
Partner W. Douglas Easton
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