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Last Modified on Oct 26, 2026
Being hit while walking or riding a bike leaves you with injuries, bills, and questions. One of them is usually whether the driver will be held accountable. Los abogados en Bentley & More LLP help injured people understand what the driver may face criminally and what compensation they can pursue in a civil claim. A free consultation can help you see where you stand.
Puntos clave
- Criminal charges against the driver punish the driver. They don’t pay your medical bills or lost wages.
- A civil claim is how you recover money, and it doesn’t depend on whether the driver is ever charged.
- Leaving the scene, driving drunk, or causing a death can bring felony charges.
- In a civil case, “penalty” usually means damages.
What Criminal Penalties Can the Driver Face?
Prosecutors, not victims, decide whether to file charges. Possible charges include:
- Hit-and-run: A driver who flees after an injury crash can face state prison, up to a year in county jail, or a fine of $1,000 to $10,000. If the crash causes death or permanent, serious injury, the penalty rises to two, three, or four years in prison, or 90 days to a year in county jail.
- DUI causing injury: This is a wobbler, so it can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony. A felony carries 16 months, two years, or three years in state prison. It can count as a strike under California’s Three Strikes law if prosecutors prove the driver caused great bodily injury to someone other than the driver. Courts may add a year for each additional injured person, up to three years.
- Vehicular manslaughter: If a pedestrian or cyclist dies, gross negligence can be charged as a felony carrying two, four, or six years in prison. Ordinary negligence is a misdemeanor with up to a year in county jail. If the driver was drunk, prosecutors can charge gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, which carries four, six, or ten years in prison. A drunk driver who kills someone can also be charged with murder.
If the driver is convicted, a judge can also order the driver to pay restitution for your losses. Collecting it can be slow, and it may not cover everything.
Why Criminal Penalties Aren’t Enough: What a Civil Claim May Recover
A conviction doesn’t automatically compensate you. Not every crash leads to criminal charges, and charges can be reduced or dropped. Because negligent driving incidents often involve motor vehicle collisions, civil claims serve as the primary legal mechanism to establish liability. A civil personal injury claim is separate, and it’s the main way to recover what the crash cost you. A civil recovery may include:
- Economic damages: for medical bills, future care, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity.
- Non-economic damages: for pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.
- Punitive damages: extra damages meant to punish the driver. A jury may award them in cases involving malice or oppression, such as some drunk-driving crashes where the driver knowingly disregarded the danger to others.
If a loved one died, certain family members may seek legal recourse through a demanda por homicidio culposo.
Preguntas frecuentes
What if the driver has no insurance?
You may be able to use your own uninsured motorist coverage. If a road defect contributed, a claim against a government entity may also be possible. Injured riders can explore their legal rights by consulting an experienced bicycle accident lawyer to review all available insurance policies.
What if I wasn’t in a crosswalk?
It can affect your share of fault, but it doesn’t automatically clear the driver. Speeding or distracted drivers can still bear significant responsibility. This rule applies equally whether the collision involves a personal vehicle or a commercial vehículo de transporte compartido navigating city traffic.
Can a driver be charged criminally and sued civilly for the same crash?
Yes, these are separate legal systems. A criminal conviction can strengthen a civil case by establishing fault. Anyone hurt by a driver facing charges should still consult a personal injury attorney about compensation.
Bentley & More LLP: Un bufete de abogados especializado en lesiones personales California
After a pedestrian or cyclist crash, you may be dealing with a criminal case and an insurance claim at the same time. Bentley & More LLP builds claims through thorough investigation.
If you were hurt in a pedestrian or bicycle accident in California, acting early protects your options. Contáctanos today to talk through your situation.
Acerca del autor: Greg Bentley
Cofundador y abogado litigante en Bentley & More LLP
Greg Bentley es cofundador de Bentley & More LLP en Newport Beach, California. Con 36 años de experiencia, representa a demandantes en casos de lesiones personales, muerte por negligencia, responsabilidad por productos defectuosos, mala fe de las aseguradoras, condiciones peligrosas en carreteras y propiedades, y defectos en obras de construcción. Habilitado para ejercer en el Colegio de Abogados de California, Greg obtuvo su título de Doctor en Derecho en la Facultad de Derecho de la Western State University en 1990. Es miembro de varias organizaciones de abogados litigantes a las que solo se puede ingresar por invitación, entre ellas el Colegio Americano de Abogados Litigantes y la Academia Internacional de Abogados Litigantes, y participa activamente en múltiples asociaciones de abogados litigantes a nivel estatal y regional.
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