What Should I Do If a Company Driver Hit Me and Fled The Scene in CA?

If you have suffered injuries and vehicle damage and the company driver that hit you fled the scene, you must try to stay calm and collected to protect your claim. If it is safe to do so, you should take the following steps right after the crash:

• Call 911 and ask for emergency medical help if you can’t drive to the hospital because of your injuries.
• Contact the police and report the crash, so they secure the accident site, investigate the crash, and look for the company driver that caused the crash.
• Take pictures and videos of the scene and speak to witnesses, if applicable.
• List down details about the accident, the injuries you suffered, any damage to your car, and any details of the company driver or their vehicle that you remember to help the police in their search.

Next, you should reach out to a Santa Barbara car accident attorney to explore your legal options and start the claims process. A skilled attorney can collect certain evidence that you can’t possibly obtain on your own, such as videos of the accident from nearby properties’ surveillance systems, traffic cameras, and dash cams. These can help your lawyer and the police locate the company driver.

You May Be Able to Sue The Company Driver’s Employer For Damages

Under the law, you may be able to sue the employer of the company driver based on the Respondeat Superior legal doctrine. Essentially, this doctrine provides that an employer or company may be held responsible for their employee’s actions if the employee’s negligence occurred while they were “on the clock” or working for the employer.

But to sue the at-fault company driver’s employer, you must first establish that the driver was working when the crash occurred. In most cases, establishing this is simple. For example, if the company driver was on their way to a customer’s location for a job or was driving as part of their work duties, the driver will be considered working under the course of their job when they hit you and fled the scene.

Get In Touch with a Santa Barbara Car Accident Lawyer Now

Any motor vehicle accident involving a company driver that fled the scene of the crash automatically becomes more complicated than the average motor vehicle accident. Depending on the situation, you may be able to hold different parties for the injuries and other losses you sustained in the accident. But determining exactly which party you must hold liable can be hard since there may also be multiple parties that contributed to or caused the crash.

Regardless of your specific circumstances, the Santa Barbara car accident lawyer of Bamieh & De Smeth can determine liability for your damages, whether it rests on the employer, the company driver, or other parties. To set up a free case review with our Santa Barbara car accident lawyer, please send us an online message or call our office at 805-643-5555.