Police Take Man into Custody After Intersection Accidents
Two intersection accidents involving bicycle riders occurred in Midtown Sacramento on July 16, which police allege may have been intentional. According to the report by the Sacramento Police Department, a driver traveling down 26th Street struck the first bicyclist at the intersection of 26th Street and P Street around 6:20 p.m. The same driver continued on and struck a second bicycle rider at the 26th Street intersection with S Street. It has been confirmed by officials that both bicyclists were seriously injured and were transported to a nearby hospital.
Driver Arrested in Hit-And-Run Intersection Accidents
The driver of the vehicle, who has yet to be identified, reportedly exited his car after crashing into the second bicycle rider. A witness said the driver then walked over and looked at the injured bicyclist and continued walking down the street. A Sacramento police officer who arrived at the intersection accident scene followed the man who had walked away and detained him with a bystander’s help. The man was taken into custody and faces charges of felony assault.
Intentional Legal Claims
A civil wrongful act (tort) that causes harm to another person or their property can be due to a purposeful act (intentional) or a lack of reasonable care (negligent). An intentional tort is one where the at-fault party wanted to cause physical or emotional harm. The wrongful act, be it assault or DUI, is done to accomplish this. Compensation is intended to recover damages such as medical care and lost wages. Because the act is intentional, there is a higher chance that punitive damages will be allowed. This latter group of damages is intended to punish the wrongdoer and prevent further occurrences. Criminal charges may be filed against the at-fault party due to the preconceived plan to harm someone.
Negligence-Based Legal Claims
Claims based on negligence are focused on accidental acts. Negligence claims are common and are due to an at-fault party ignoring their duty of reasonable care. In this case, the defendant might be reckless or exhibit careless behavior, but they do not intend to hurt another driver or bicyclist. The defendant is liable for the damages they caused because they breached their expected duty of care.
Negligence claims seek both economic (medical care, wages and other costs) and non-economic damages. Non-economic damages differ from economic loss since they are not as easily calculated and differ from one person to another. As with intentional claims, the plaintiff (injured party) may ask for punitive damages, however, except in a few instances, such compensation is rare. Punitive damages are frequently requested in some cases of DUI, especially in cases of repeat drunk driving with injury to another person. Criminal charges can be lodged against the defendant in some cases.
Investigating an Intersection Accident
We dispatch our investigators immediately to the scene of the accident. There, they look for evidence that links the at-fault driver to the damages the injured party suffered. They talk to witnesses and obtain intersection traffic light videos of the incident. The investigators also examine police reports for inaccuracies and use accident reconstruction techniques to show liability. Once all evidence is compiled, the investigators release the data to our legal team, who use it to build a strong case for our client.
Personal Injury Lawyer in Sacramento
I’m Ed Smith, a personal injury lawyer in Sacramento. Intersection accidents can result in some of the worst injuries. Those who are injured may claim fair compensation from the at-fault party, which will cover all of their medical expenses, money lost from time away from work and their pain and suffering. Please contact me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for my free and friendly advice. You can reach me also by completing the online contact form.
Information about my law firm can be found at:
I am a California member of:
I’ve helped Sacramentans for over 38 years with all types of traffic crashes, wrongful deaths and other traumatic accidents.
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