June 24 Sacramento Hit and Run Injures Elderly Woman
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento car accident lawyer. A June 24th collision with a hit and run driver left one individual with injuries in East Sacramento. The injured person was transported to Kaiser Permanente Roseville Medical Center for further medical treatment, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The intensity of the collision was sufficient to cause airbag deployment. The suspect vehicle in the crash was reported as swerving all over the roadway and unable to maintain the lane.
Accident Details
According to the CHP, the collision occurred around 8:50 in the morning along westbound Madison Avenue near the intersection of Illinois Avenue when an undescribed vehicle struck a Toyota Altima, injuring an older woman. However, at the time of this report, the extent of the injuries are unknown.
Hit and Run Vehicle Sighted Near Auburn
Following the accident with the Toyota, the hit and run vehicle was reported near Auburn where it almost rear-ended another car. Further information has not been released on whether the driver was apprehended or if drugs or alcohol were the cause of the erratic driving and accident. A tow truck was called to remove the Toyota from the roadway to provide clear passage for traffic.
Hit and Run Accidents
A hit and run accident is one where a driver strikes another vehicle, a pedestrian or an object and leaves before leaving contact information or helping someone who was injured in the crash. In such cases, the question of committing an offense does not rest on whether or not the driver was responsible for the accident. Instead, it rests on the fact that the driver left the scene.
Penalties for a Hit and Run Accident
Penalties in a hit and run accident vary in California based on whether anyone was injured or killed. If only property was damaged, it is considered a misdemeanor under Vehicle Code 20002. Penalties include a fine of a maximum of $1,000 or placement in a county jail for a period not to exceed six months.
However, if another person was injured or killed, the accident can be charged as a felony under Vehicle Code 20001. As a felony, a driver may be fined a maximum of $10,000 and imprisoned for up to three years.
The Incidence of Hit and Run Accidents in California
The number of hit and run accidents in California has been on the rise in recent years. Many drivers have been drinking and fear being charged with a DUI. The vast majority cause property damage, but it is not unusual for hit and run accidents to occur that cause injury. It is often difficult to solve a hit and run accident, and the public is instrumental in helping law enforcement to apprehend a guilty party.
Compiling Evidence in a Hit and Run Accident
It is possible to accrue evidence in a Sacramento hit and run accident. Immediately after a crash, it is essential to:
- Jot down the license plate number if possible. Even a fragment of the number can help identify the vehicle.
- Note the make and model of the vehicle.
- Mark the location of the accident. Use mile markers if necessary.
- Look for damages to the vehicle.
- Take photos of the vehicular damage. This helps since paint found at the point of impact will assist in identifying the color of the hit and run vehicle. Different manufacturers use specific colors, so the model and make can be established. Pictures can be used not only to identify the vehicle but in showing how the accident happened. A side impact when a car was proceeding through an intersection with the right of way might indicate that the hit and run driver ran a red light.
- Take the name and contact information of witnesses at the scene.
Car Accident Lawyers in Sacramento
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento car accident lawyer. Hit and run accidents not only cause injury and property loss, but they also leave a driver or pedestrian in a problematic situation when it comes to recovering damages. In such cases, an experienced attorney can help. Reach out to me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for friendly and free advice. You can contact me online too.
I’ve helped numerous Sacramento residents recover the compensation they deserve in the past 36 years for all types of accidents.
I am a California member of the milliondollaradvocates. We are a forum of lawyers who have won verdicts or negotiated trial settlements for a client in excess of $1 million.
If you would like to know more about my practice, you can visit the following pages:
Photo Attribution: Depositphotos_1371375_l-2015
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