Being involved in a car accident is stressful enough. Finding out that the vehicle that hit you was stolen can make the situation even more confusing.
If you were hit by a stolen car in California, you may have questions about who is responsible for your injuries, whether the vehicle owner can be held liable, and how you can pay for medical treatment and other losses.
A stolen vehicle accident can involve several different legal and insurance issues. The person driving the stolen vehicle may be responsible for causing the collision, but recovering compensation can become more complicated if the driver is uninsured, unidentified, or unable to pay for the damages.
If you were injured in a crash involving a stolen vehicle in Orange County, understanding your rights and insurance coverage is an important first step.
What Should You Do After Being Hit By A Stolen Car?
Your first priority after any accident should be your safety and medical needs.
If you are able to do so safely, move away from traffic and call 911. If you or anyone else has been injured, request emergency medical assistance.
You should also report the collision to law enforcement. This is especially important when the other vehicle was stolen. The police report may document the circumstances of the crash, information about the vehicle, the identity of the driver if known, and information about the vehicle’s stolen status.
The California Department of Insurance recommends stopping at the scene, contacting law enforcement, obtaining information from drivers and witnesses when possible, documenting the accident scene, and notifying your insurance company.
If you can safely do so, consider gathering:
- The stolen vehicle’s license plate number
- The make, model, and color of the vehicle
- Photographs of the accident scene
- Photographs of damage to your vehicle
- Names and contact information for witnesses
- The police report or report number
- Medical records and bills
- Information about missed work
- Any photographs or video from nearby businesses or traffic cameras
Do not put yourself in danger trying to obtain information. If the person who was driving the stolen vehicle fled the scene, provide law enforcement with whatever information you have.
Who Is Responsible If A Stolen Car Hits You?
One of the most important questions after a stolen vehicle accident is who can be held financially responsible for your injuries and losses.
Generally, the driver who caused the accident may be personally responsible for the harm they caused. However, a stolen vehicle creates an important distinction because the vehicle owner may not have given the driver permission to use the vehicle.
Vehicle ownership alone does not necessarily mean that the vehicle owner is responsible for an accident caused by someone who stole the vehicle. The specific facts matter, including how the vehicle was taken, whether anyone gave the driver permission to use it, and whether there are other circumstances that could create liability.
This is one reason a stolen vehicle accident in California can require a more detailed investigation than an ordinary car accident.
An attorney may need to investigate the police report, vehicle ownership, insurance policies, witness statements, available surveillance footage, and the circumstances surrounding the theft.
What If The Driver Of The Stolen Car Is Uninsured?
Insurance coverage can become particularly important when you are hit by a stolen car.
California requires drivers and vehicle owners to maintain financial responsibility, and California auto insurance policies commonly include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage can provide protection when you are injured in a collision caused by an uninsured driver. California Department of Insurance guidance explains that uninsured motorist coverage may apply when the other driver does not have liability insurance.
This can be especially important in a stolen vehicle accident because the person driving the vehicle may not have valid insurance coverage of their own.
Your own policy may contain coverage that could help with your injuries, depending on the circumstances and the specific terms of your policy.
Do not assume that you have no options simply because the stolen vehicle driver does not have insurance.
Can You Use Uninsured Motorist Coverage After A Stolen Car Accident?
Possibly.
Uninsured motorist coverage is designed to provide certain benefits when an at-fault driver does not have liability insurance. California also recognizes uninsured motorist property damage coverage under certain circumstances.
Whether your coverage applies after a stolen vehicle accident depends on the circumstances and the language of your insurance policy.
For example, questions may include:
- Was the driver identified?
- Was the stolen vehicle insured?
- Did the vehicle owner’s policy provide applicable coverage?
- Do you have uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage?
- Do you have collision coverage?
- Were you a passenger in your vehicle?
- Did you suffer injuries?
- Was the stolen vehicle driver at fault for the collision?
Your insurance policy is a contract, so the specific policy language matters.
What Compensation May Be Available After A Stolen Vehicle Accident?
If another person’s negligence caused your injuries, you may be able to seek compensation for losses associated with the accident.
Depending on the circumstances, damages may include:
- Emergency medical treatment
- Hospital bills
- Follow-up medical care
- Physical therapy
- Prescription medications
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Vehicle repairs
- Other property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Other accident-related losses
The types and amount of compensation available depend on the facts of the accident, the injuries involved, applicable insurance coverage, and California law.
A stolen vehicle does not automatically mean that an injured person has no path to compensation. Instead, it can make determining the appropriate source of compensation more complicated.
What If The Stolen Car Driver Flees?
A stolen vehicle accident can also become a hit-and-run case if the driver leaves the scene.
If the driver flees, contact law enforcement immediately and provide as much information as possible. License plate information, vehicle descriptions, photographs, witness statements, nearby surveillance footage, and other evidence may help investigators identify the vehicle or driver.
You should also notify your insurance company about the accident.
California’s Department of Insurance recommends promptly notifying your insurance company after an accident and documenting your injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, and other losses when making an uninsured motorist claim.
Do Not Assume The Insurance Company Will Handle Everything
After a serious accident, you may receive calls from insurance representatives asking for information about the collision.
You should cooperate with your insurer as required by your policy, but you should also understand what you are being asked to provide and what you may be agreeing to.
The California Department of Insurance recommends reading your policy, notifying your insurer after an accident, and asking questions when you do not understand the claims process.
If you suffered significant injuries, have substantial medical bills, or are unsure which insurance coverage applies, speaking with a personal injury attorney can help you understand your legal options before making important decisions about your claim.
Why A Stolen Vehicle Accident Can Be Complicated
A typical car accident may involve two drivers and their insurance companies. A stolen vehicle accident can involve considerably more questions.
An investigation may need to determine:
- Who owned the vehicle?
- When and how was the vehicle reported stolen?
- Who was driving it?
- Was the driver identified?
- How did the driver obtain the vehicle?
- Who caused the collision?
- What insurance policies may provide coverage?
- What injuries and financial losses resulted?
- Was the accident also a hit-and-run?
- Are there witnesses, surveillance footage, or other evidence that could help establish what happened?
These questions can affect where a claim is made and what sources of compensation may be available.
What If You Were Injured As A Passenger?
If you were a passenger in another vehicle and were injured when a stolen car crashed into you, you may still have options for pursuing compensation.
Your own auto insurance policy may provide certain protections, including uninsured motorist coverage, depending on the policy and circumstances. California Department of Insurance guidance explains that uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage can cover injuries to you and people in your vehicle when an uninsured driver is at fault.
You should not assume that the fact that the other vehicle was stolen eliminates your ability to pursue a claim.
What If You Were Driving A Motorcycle Or Riding A Bicycle?
People outside a passenger vehicle can be particularly vulnerable in collisions involving another vehicle.
If a stolen car hits a motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian, injuries can be severe even when the collision happens at relatively low speeds.
The same basic steps apply: seek medical attention, report the accident, document the scene if it is safe, preserve evidence, and notify the appropriate insurance companies.
For a serious injury, an attorney can help investigate how the collision occurred and identify potentially applicable sources of compensation.
Why Medical Documentation Matters
Some accident injuries are immediately obvious. Others may become more apparent hours or days after a collision.
After being hit by a stolen car, seek medical attention if you are experiencing pain, dizziness, headaches, numbness, limited movement, or other symptoms.
Keep records of your medical appointments, treatment recommendations, prescriptions, expenses, and time missed from work.
Medical documentation can also help establish the connection between the collision and your injuries.
Do not minimize an injury simply because you were able to walk away from the accident scene.
How An Orange County Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
If you were injured after being hit by a stolen car in Orange County, determining what happened is only part of the process.
A personal injury attorney may investigate the collision, review the police report, identify potentially applicable insurance coverage, gather evidence, communicate with insurance companies, and evaluate the losses associated with your injuries.
At Fielding Law, our attorneys represent people injured in motor vehicle accidents throughout Orange County and California. We handle negligence-based and intentional acts involving car accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian and bicycle accidents, and other serious personal injury matters.
Every stolen vehicle accident is different. The fact that a vehicle was stolen does not by itself determine who may be legally responsible or what insurance coverage may be available.
What To Do If You Were Hit By A Stolen Car In Orange County
If you have been injured in a stolen vehicle accident, consider taking these steps:
Seek medical attention. Your health comes first.
Report the accident. Contact law enforcement and make sure the stolen vehicle and circumstances of the collision are documented.
Document the accident. Photograph the vehicles, roadway, visible injuries, and surrounding area when it is safe to do so.
Preserve evidence. Keep medical records, bills, repair estimates, photographs, witness information, and other accident-related documents.
Notify your insurance company. Your policy may provide coverage that becomes important after an accident involving an uninsured driver.
Review your insurance coverage. Uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist, collision, medical payments, and other coverage may have different requirements and limitations.
Consider speaking with an attorney. If you suffered serious injuries or the insurance issues are complicated, legal guidance may help you understand your options.
Get Help After A Stolen Car Accident In Orange County
Being hit by a stolen car in California can leave you dealing with injuries, medical bills, vehicle damage, lost income, and uncertainty about who is responsible.
You do not have to figure out the insurance and legal issues on your own.
Fielding Law helps injured people understand their legal options after serious car accidents in Orange County and throughout California. Our attorneys can review the circumstances of your accident and help determine what claims and insurance coverage may apply.
If you were injured in a stolen vehicle accident, contact Fielding Law for a free, 24/7 consultation with no obligation. Call 833.88.SHARK.
Fielding Law, APC – Irvine, CA Office
505 Technology Dr Ste 250
Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 288-5484
Fielding Law, APC – Phoenix, AZ Office
2 N Central Ave Ste 1800
Phoenix, AZ 85004
(859) 578-4444
Note: Information provided is for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult with a qualified attorney for legal concerns.
