Fleeing Driver Hits Pedestrian on Elvas Avenue
A hit-and-run pedestrian accident happened near the University of California in Sacramento on December 12. The accident occurred in the 5900 block of Elvas Avenue close to the university’s soccer field and St. Francis High School at about 3:15 in the afternoon.
Further Information on the Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accident
Emergency personnel with the Sacramento Fire Department transferred the seriously injured pedestrian to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment. The perpetrator of the hit-and-run pedestrian accident reportedly abandoned his or her vehicle nearby. However, no description of the fleeing driver has been revealed. The hit-and-run crash remains under investigation.
Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents occurred more frequently in the last several years due to a bigger pool of individuals who walk for exercise. This is seen in some general statistics such as:
- Annually, 60,000 pedestrians are injured, and approximately 6,000 die.
- The vast majority of pedestrian injuries occur inside the city limits.
- Every 113 minutes, a walker dies from injuries suffered in a pedestrian accident.
- Every eight minutes, a walker is injured in a pedestrian accident.
- 25 percent of pedestrian accidents occur in an intersection.
- 18 percent of pedestrian accidents involve a drunk driver.
- Most pedestrian accidents happen between dusk and midnight.
- Males are more likely to be injured in a pedestrian accident.
- Speed is a major factor in a pedestrian accident.
Injuries in a Motor Vehicle Accident With a Pedestrian
Pedestrians are especially vulnerable to injury in a motor vehicle accident. Many injuries are traumatic, and fatalities are frequent. Some of the most common areas of the body that are injured in a pedestrian accident are:
- Extremities: This area ranks number one because the legs and pelvis are usually the first to come in contact with the vehicle. Broken bones and pelvic and femur fractures occur.
- Upper body: Head injury stands out as the most serious and life-threatening trauma in a pedestrian accident. It can cause long-term disability and significant life changes requiring extended hospital stays and continuing home care. Other upper body injuries include a dislocated shoulder, vertebral herniation, fractures of the jaw, facial laceration, and dental damage, among others
- Upper extremities: About 30 percent of pedestrians injured in an accident suffer injury to their upper extremities. For the most part, the hands, wrist, and arms are involved.
Hit-and-Run Accidents
The frequency of hit-and-run accidents in California has increased rapidly despite laws that provide serious penalties and jail time. This is due, in part, to the number of drivers operating a vehicle illegally without insurance, registration, or a driver’s license. Stopping at the scene will mean that they will be apprehended and might lose the right to drive in the future.
Because drunk and impaired driving are rising, this is a critical factor in the rise of hit-and-run accidents. Other considerations are panicked drivers or those with outstanding warrants.
Claims Involving a Hit-and-Run Driver
Injured pedestrians often worry about their ability to pay for damages if the negligent driver is not apprehended. While many fleeing drivers are located, some are not. One way to pay for medical bills and lost time from work is to file a claim with your own insurance company under an uninsured/underinsured protection policy.
This is offered to all drivers. It is applicable if you are walking, driving, or riding a bike. Even if the injured person did not opt for this protection, they could use a family member’s policy. Using uninsured/underinsured insurance does not raise the premium.
Investigating a Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accident
Our firm sends an investigative team to the accident site. They gather evidence about the vehicle and fleeing driver from witnesses and surveillance cameras in the area. They also review police reports for mistakes and use forensic reconstruction to determine liability. Once the evidence is gathered, the investigative team sends it to our injury attorneys as they work on building a strong case in our client’s favor.
Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento personal injury lawyer. Suffering injuries in a hit-and-run pedestrian accident can be catastrophic. Contact me for free and friendly advice at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 any time. You can also reach me online.
I’ve helped Sacramentans since 1982 in all types of car accidents, wrongful death cases, and with traumatic injuries obtain the compensation they deserve.
Learn more about my firm here:
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Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/hospital-emergency-room-entrance-1636334/
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