{"id":6822,"date":"2026-11-08T03:27:47","date_gmt":"2026-11-08T03:27:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/wrongful-death-lawyer\/fatal-hit-and-run-wrongful-death-lawyer-bakersfield\/"},"modified":"2026-11-08T03:27:54","modified_gmt":"2026-11-08T03:27:54","slug":"fatal-hit-and-run-wrongful-death-lawyer-bakersfield","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/wrongful-death-lawyer\/fatal-hit-and-run-wrongful-death-lawyer-bakersfield\/","title":{"rendered":"Bakersfield Fatal Hit-and-Run Wrongful Death Lawyer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Wrongful Death \u00b7 Bakersfield, CA<\/p>

Lost a Loved One in a Hit-and-Run? Our Team Stands With Your Family.<\/h1>

Colvin Accident Lawyers represents families after fatal hit-and-run crashes in Kern County and nearby communities. Your first consultation is free, confidential, and comes with no obligation to continue.<\/p>

Get a Free Consultation<\/a><\/div>
Get a Free Consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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How We Can Help Your Family<\/h2>\n

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Focused on Wrongful Death Cases<\/h3>

Our practice includes wrongful death claims arising from fatal crashes, including hit-and-run collisions where the driver left the scene.<\/p><\/div>

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Compassion for Grieving Families<\/h3>

We understand that a sudden death brings grief, questions, and paperwork at the same time. We take the time to listen.<\/p><\/div>

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Free, Confidential First Consultation<\/h3>

Speak with our team at no cost. The first consultation is confidential and carries no obligation to continue.<\/p><\/div>

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Serving Bakersfield and Kern County<\/h3>

We represent families across Kern County, including Bakersfield, Delano, and Tehachapi, as well as Fresno, Visalia, Lancaster, and Palmdale.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

By Donald Norman Colvin \u00b7 Published November 7, 2026<\/p>\n\n

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What a Fatal Hit-and-Run Wrongful Death Claim Covers<\/h2>\n

A family may still have a wrongful death claim when the driver who killed their loved one drove away and was never found. Wrongful death is a claim brought because a death was caused by another person’s wrongful act or neglect. If the driver is identified, the claim can go against that driver. If the driver is not found, the family’s own uninsured motorist coverage may be the path forward.<\/p>\n

Colvin Accident Lawyers is based in Bakersfield, California. The firm handles fatal accident claims, including car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, pedestrian and bus crashes. Families in Kern County and nearby communities can contact the firm to talk through what happened.<\/p>\n

Hit-and-run cases raise questions that other crashes do not. Who can bring the claim? What does the insurance policy say? How much time is there? This page answers those questions in order.<\/p>\n\n

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If a driver fled and your loved one died, you may have a claim, and you don't have to sort out the insurance questions alone. Contact Colvin Accident Lawyers to talk through the facts. Talk it through with our team — the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.<\/p>

Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div>
Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in California<\/h2>\n

Certain family members can bring the claim under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. \u00a7 377.60<\/a>. The list starts with the decedent’s surviving spouse, domestic partner and children. If there is no surviving issue, the persons who would inherit the decedent’s property may bring it.<\/p>\n

Other people may qualify too. Under Code of Civil Procedure \u00a7 377.60<\/a>, parents may sue as heirs by intestate succession when the decedent leaves no surviving issue. Whether or not they qualify that way, a putative spouse, children of a putative spouse, stepchildren, or parents may also bring a claim if they were dependent on the decedent. If the decedent’s parents would have been entitled to bring the claim and are deceased, the decedent’s legal guardians may bring it as if they were the parents. A minor who lived in the decedent’s household for the previous 180 days, and relied on the decedent for half or more of their support, may also qualify.<\/p>\n

The decedent’s personal representative may also bring the action on their behalf.<\/p>\n

The court decides how any award is divided among the people entitled to it, under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. \u00a7 377.61<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Not sure your family qualifies? Share your family relationships with Colvin Accident Lawyers, and the firm can review your standing.<\/p>\n

California Hit-and-Run Offenses Under the Vehicle Code<\/h2>\n

A driver in a crash that injures or kills someone must stop at the scene. Under Cal. Veh. Code \u00a7 20001<\/a>, the driver must immediately stop and meet the reporting duties the code sets out.<\/p>\n

If the crash results in death or permanent, serious injury, the offense is punishable by state prison for two, three or four years. It can also mean county jail for at least 90 days and up to one year. The fine ranges from $1,000 to $10,000, and the judge may impose both. In imposing the minimum fine, the court shall take into consideration the defendant\u2019s ability to pay the fine and, in the interests of justice and for reasons stated in the record, may reduce the minimum fine to less than the amount otherwise required. The court may reduce or eliminate the minimum jail time in the interests of justice, with reasons stated on the record.<\/p>\n

“Permanent, serious injury” means the loss or permanent impairment of function of a bodily member or organ.<\/p>\n

Still, a police report number<\/a> or criminal case number helps the civil side. Bring any numbers you have to your conversation with Colvin Accident Lawyers.<\/p>\n

How the Driver’s Identity and Insurance Affect the Claim<\/h2>\n

If the driver is identified, the claim can go against that driver and the driver’s liability insurance. If the driver is never found, the family may look to its own uninsured motorist coverage.<\/p>\n

California’s Cal. Ins. Code \u00a7 11580.2<\/a> sets the rules for these claims. The injury must arise out of physical contact of the hit-and-run vehicle with the insured person or with a car the insured was occupying. A crash without that physical contact does not fit this rule.<\/p>\n

The statute also sets reporting steps. The insured, or someone on their behalf, must report the accident within 24 hours to the police department where it happened. Cal. Ins. Code \u00a7 11580.2<\/a> requires that, for bodily injury arising from physical contact with an automobile whose driver’s identity is unascertainable, the insured or someone on the insured’s behalf report the accident within 24 hours to the police department of the city where it occurred (or, in unincorporated territory, to the county sheriff or the California Highway Patrol) and file a sworn statement with the insurer within 30 days. If it happened in unincorporated territory, the report goes to the sheriff or the local California Highway Patrol headquarters. Within 30 days after that, a sworn statement must be filed with the insurer saying the insured has a cause of action for damages against a person or persons whose identity is unascertainable, with supporting facts set forth. Cal. Ins. Code \u00a7 11580.2<\/a> reads: “As used in this section, \u201cuninsured motor vehicle\u201d shall not include a motor vehicle owned or operated by the named insured or any resident of the same household or self-insured within the meaning of the Financial Responsibility Law of the state in which the motor vehicle is registered or that is owned by the United States of America, Canada, a state or political subdivision of any of those governments or an agency of any of the foregoing, or a land motor vehicle or trailer while located for use as a residence or premises and not as a vehicle, or any equipment or vehicle designed or modified for use primarily off public roads, except while actually upon public roads.”<\/p>\n

If the family and insurer disagree about whether the insured can recover, or how much, the dispute can go to arbitration before a single neutral arbitrator, under the same section.<\/p>\n

Policy wording matters. A lawyer reviews the actual policy instead of assuming coverage applies. Bring your insurance declarations page and the crash report to your conversation with Colvin Accident Lawyers so the coverage questions can be reviewed directly.<\/p>\n

Steps to Protect the Wrongful Death Claim Now<\/h2>\n

Report the crash and the death, save names and numbers, keep records, and speak with a lawyer before you speak with any insurer. Each step helps preserve the claim.<\/p>\n