Save photos, driver information, witness names, police or school reports, medical records, helmet and equipment damage, and any available video.

Drivers backing out may not see a bike, scooter, skateboard, or e-bike approaching, especially if the rider is moving quickly or hidden by parked cars.

Teens should ride in the same direction as traffic, follow signs and signals, stay predictable, and choose routes with lower speeds when possible.

California rules generally require riders under 18 to wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet when riding bicycles, e-bikes, and electric scooters.

Ask what they would do if a car does not see them, their phone rings, there is no bike lane, they approach a driveway, or they are running late.

As soon as possible. Some surveillance systems overwrite footage within days, so waiting can make key evidence harder or impossible to recover.

A partial plate can still help, especially when combined with vehicle color, make, model, direction of travel, location, time, cameras, and witness statements.

A police report is often important after a hit-and-run because it documents that the other driver left and may be required for insurance or DMV reporting.