Accident on State Route 51 Leaves One Person Injured
A hit-and-run on the Capital City Freeway on August 26 in Sacramento occurred when two vehicles collided, leaving one person injured. The collision happened around 3:30 in the afternoon along southbound S.R. 51 just north of the P Street off-ramp. Sacramento police responded as well as the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and a crew with the Sacramento Fire Department.
Fleeing Driver Sought in Sacramento Hit-and-Run
According to authorities, the accident involved a Mercedes, which was heavily damaged on the front passenger side, and a white work truck, which fled the scene. One individual in the Mercedes was transported to a hospital by emergency responders for a possible broken arm. The hit-and-run is being investigated by authorities to discover how the collision occurred, and a search is being made for the fleeing driver and vehicle.
Hit-and-Run Accidents
Despite hefty penalties for leaving the scene of an accident, the number of hit-and-run crashes increases each year. Some of the most common reasons for this are:
- The driver does not have a valid license and does not want to be caught since they can lose their right to drive in the future. The unlicensed driver can be charged with a misdemeanor and receive a six-month jail term and a $1,000 fine.
- The motorist does not have insurance on the vehicle and wants to remain anonymous. Lacking insurance in California can result in minimal fines for the first offense, however, the vehicle may be impounded. The second conviction has a higher fine and possible loss of the car. Further, if the uninsured driver caused a collision with injuries, they are responsible for paying for damages.
- The driver is drunk and does not want to take a Breathalyzer test. A DUI is a serious offense with significant penalties.
- The driver has drugs or drug paraphernalia in the vehicle and does not want the police to see them.
- The motorist panics and runs.
Paying for Damages After a Hit-and-Run Accident
We work hard along with law enforcement to determine the identity of the hit-and-run driver. While they are apprehended frequently, it does not always happen. In such instances, we help clients use their own uninsured/underinsured auto policy to obtain the compensation they deserve. This is an add-on policy that is available when you purchase insurance because of the numerous uninsured/underinsured drivers in California. Even if you decided against purchasing this policy add-on, if a member of your family did, you can use it.
Investigating a Hit-and-Run Accident
There are several layers of investigation in a hit-and-run crash. First, it is necessary to apprehend the fleeing driver. We ask witnesses and the injured party if they noticed any distinguishing features about the driver or identifying elements of the vehicle such as color, scrapes, decals. We inquire about the make, model and license plate of the vehicle. Even a partial license plate number will help.
Next, we investigate the accident scene to see who was responsible for causing the crash. Our investigators use accident reconstruction techniques to determine liability and obtain surveillance camera footage. We also check police reports for accuracy/mistakes. All the evidence is reported to the legal team to structure a lawsuit.
Car Accident Lawyers in Sacramento
My name is Ed Smith, and I’m a car accident lawyer. Contact us for our free and friendly advice if a negligent driver was the cause of your injuries. You can reach us at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. An online contact form is available also.
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Our legal team has helped many Sacramentans to get fair compensation for traffic accidents, motorcycle crashes, wrongful deaths, and more since 1982.
Photo attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/headlamp-accident-auto-blue-broken-2940/
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