Accident on Palm Avenue That Injures Pedestrian May Have Been Intentional
A hit-and-run resulting in injuries occurred in Sacramento on May 25 sent a pedestrian to a hospital. The accident was reported around 2:32 p.m. at Palm Avenue and College Oak Drive near Walerga Park in the Foothill Farms area, according to the incident report by the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The accident is being investigated to determine whether the motorist or pedestrian was at fault and the driver of the fleeing vehicle is being sought.
Details of the Hit-and-Run Accident
The police incident report stated that the driver who struck the pedestrian exited their vehicle and tried to start a fight with another woman who was attempting to help the injured pedestrian. The driver then got back into their vehicle and drove off. The pedestrian suffered a broken leg and possibly other injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment. The police report stated that the pedestrian injury may have been intentional.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim
When accident injuries are caused either through negligence or an intentional act, the injured party may place a claim for compensation with the help of a personal injury attorney. The areas where compensation may be sought include:
- Lost wages may be recovered caused by the injured party’s inability to work. Lost wages also include any bonuses or other losses where the injured party would have received compensation.
- If the harm is serious enough that the injured person either has to take a lower-graded position or becomes permanently disabled, the salary is calculated until their age of retirement.
- All medical expenses associated with the accident injury can be recovered. This includes everything from the ambulance service to hospitalization, physicians’ bills, surgeries, prescription medications, and physical rehabilitation.
- The loss of consortium, love, and affection between spouses can be recovered.
- Loss of guidance and nurturing of the family’s children are recoverable.
- Emotional and physical pain can be recovered. For those who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of an accident and require professional treatment, that cost is recoverable also.
Locating a Hit-and-Run Driver
Over the years, my law firm and our injury attorneys have successfully located a number of hit-and-run drivers, so they can be held responsible for injuries to another person. An investigation into the hit-and-run can often uncover who the person responsible for the pedestrian injury was. Some of the evidence collected includes:
- The investigators go to the hit-and-run site to find pieces of paint and dropped metal that can identify the vehicle’s make and model.
- Accident reconstruction is performed.
- Witnesses are interviewed who can often identify the vehicle and, at times, the driver. Some recall at least a portion of the license plate or filmed the accident on their cell phones.
- The police report is examined for errors.
- Intersection and other cameras are checked to see if the fleeing driver was captured on video.
Placing a Claim Through Insurance
If the hit-and-run driver cannot be located, the injured party may be able to claim compensation through their uninsured/underinsured insurance. Many people opt for this add-on insurance because numerous drivers in the state either don’t carry enough coverage or have none at all. When the injured party has no insurance of this type, but a household member does, that can be used instead. The rates for the policy do not increase if it is used.
Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer
My name is Ed Smith. I’m a Sacramento personal injury lawyer. Contact me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 if you would like my free and friendly advice on whether a claim can be filed when you’ve been injured by another person or entity. You can also contact me online if you prefer.
Since 1982, my legal team and I have helped Sacramentans garner fair compensation for their traffic accident injuries, claims involving trauma, and wrongful deaths.
Discover helpful information about my law firm at the links that follow below:
It is an honor for me to be a member of the following groups:
Photo attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/pedestrians-people-busy-movement-400811/
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