After a collision, it’s normal to feel shaken and unsure. But in the minutes and hours after a driver leaves the scene, your priorities should be clear:
- Get medical care immediately (even if injuries feel “minor”). Treatment records become critical in California when insurers question causation.
- Call 911 if the driver fled or if there’s any chance the vehicle can be identified through police response.
- Document what you can remember while it’s fresh: street/area, direction of travel, vehicle color/make/model (if known), and any partial plate details.
- Take photos: your injuries, vehicle damage, road conditions, traffic control signs/lights, and any debris.
- Save identifying details from witnesses—names, phone numbers, and what they observed.
If you’re able, also check whether nearby businesses, apartments, or homes have exterior cameras that may have captured the crash. In Lemon Grove, many incidents occur near storefronts and residential driveways where footage retention can be short.


