Bicyclist Injured in Hit and Run on U.S. 50
A hit-and-run in South Lake Tahoe on May 22 caused injuries to a bicycle rider when they were struck by a vehicle. The collision happened around 8:21 a.m. along eastbound U.S. 50 at Country Club Drive. Fire Department emergency responders were called to the scene by officers with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and determined that the bicyclist had been injured in the collision. However, the extent of the injuries is unknown.
Authorities Seeking Hit-and-Run Driver Who Injured Bicycle Rider
South Lake Tahoe police were notified and are on the lookout for the fleeing vehicle. The CHP traffic accident investigators are determining how the accident occurred and also searching for the hit-and-run driver.
Injury Accidents Caused by a Fleeing Driver
When a hit-and-run driver strikes a bicycle rider or pedestrian, locating them is important so compensation can be recovered by the injured party. All too often, however, the at-fault driver flees the scene before they can be identified. Fortunately, there are steps that lawyers investigating such hit-and-run accidents can take to find out who was behind the wheel and hold them accountable for their actions.
Investigation of a Hit-and-Run By an Accident Attorney
Witnesses can be a key source of information in hit-and-run investigations. If any witnesses saw the accident or the license plate of the fleeing vehicle, their observations and testimony can help identify the driver. Additionally, security cameras at nearby businesses may have captured video footage of the accident or its aftermath that could provide clues about who was involved.
Lawyers can also search crash reports from local police departments to try to connect a description of the car with one that has been reported as stolen or abandoned near the scene. Other inquiries might include checking for recent insurance claims related to damage from an incident matching the description of the hit-and-run collision being investigated.
Finally, lawyers may be able to use geolocation data from cell phones to pinpoint where a fleeing driver was at the time of the accident. This kind of evidence can be very persuasive in court, and it can be gathered with a court order for records from cell phone companies.
Holding the At-Fault Driver Responsible
By following these steps, lawyers representing people injured by fleeing drivers may be able to identify who was behind the wheel and hold them responsible for their negligence. With guidance and support from an experienced personal injury attorney, hit-and-run victims can pursue legal action against negligent parties and seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Using Your Auto Insurance to Cover the Cost of Your Injuries
In cases where the at-fault driver is not identified or located, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage on an injured party’s auto policy may come into play. In these cases, a lawyer can offer guidance on how to proceed and help an injured person get the compensation they deserve. If the injured person does not have this auto policy add-on and a family member does, theirs can be used. Rates do not change.
The following qualities should be considered when choosing an attorney, according to Ed Smith, an injury lawyer in South Lake Tahoe:
South Lake Tahoe Personal Injury Lawyer
I am Ed Smith. I’m a South Lake Tahoe personal injury lawyer. It is possible to recover damages if the negligence of another party injured you. Contact us at (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice about whether you can file a claim from one of our accident attorneys. You can contact us online as well.
Below are a few examples of how our injury lawyers have helped other clients obtain fair compensation:
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Photo attribution: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLQ8I1W1gR8&t=10s; Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay
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