CHP Looking For Missing Driver After Chico Area Hit-and-Run
One person was severely injured during a Chico area hit-and-run that took place on Sunday, July 5, 2020. Butte County officials have identified the injured party as a 24-year-old Chico resident. California Highway Patrol (CHP) has said that the accident occurred in the very early morning on Highway 99 in a rural area outside of Chico and that officers are still searching for the missing vehicle and driver.
Accident Information
According to CHP, the pedestrian had been walking on the side of Highway 99W at around 2:50 a.m. The young man was walking next to the northbound highway lane when an oncoming driver struck him. Immediately after the incident occurred, the driver drove away from the scene, leaving the injured pedestrian.
Response
When officials arrived at the site of the accident, they found the pedestrian lying in the middle of the northbound highway lane and determined that he had sustained critical injuries. The pedestrian was rushed via helicopter ambulance to the Enloe Hospital in Chico to be given immediate medical care. According to updates from medical officials, the injured man is still in critical condition.
The injured pedestrian’s family has started a GoFundMe to help cover medical expenses. The fundraiser can be accessed here. According to the fundraiser page, the young man suffered several bone fractures as well as organ damage during the incident.
Investigation
Police have asked for public help with investigating this accident. Anybody who may have seen the crash or has information about the missing vehicle and/or driver is urged to contact CHP at their non-emergency number, 1-800-TELL-CHP.
Hit-and-Run Accidents and Recovering Compensation
With normal vehicle accidents, injured parties can file a personal injury claim against the negligent driver in order to claim compensation for their damages. However, with a hit-and-run, this driver often cannot be found. This can leave crash survivors and their families worried about how they will be able to afford medical expenses, make up for lost income, and move on with their lives after such a traumatic event.
Thankfully, it is often possible for crash survivors to get the compensation that they need. By going through your own insurance policy and utilizing “uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage,” collision survivors can often obtain payments even if the negligent party is never found. However, this coverage isn’t a part of every insurance policy and many insurers will offer less compensation than people deserve. For these reasons, it is very important to make sure you have advice from a lawyer before dealing with your insurance company.
More Articles from AutoAccident.com
- Highway Crash in Chico Kills Cyclist
- What is a Chico Injury Lawyer?
- Six Cars Involved in Fatal Chico Pile-up
Chico Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Chico personal injury lawyer. Suffering car crash injuries can be life-changing. For free, friendly advice about what you can do after a serious car crash, contact me by calling (800) 404-5400 or (530) 392-9400.
People in the Chico area have trusted my law firm to help them with major accident cases for 38 years. We’ve obtained many settlements and verdicts during this time. To learn about our work, you can read what our clients have written about our practice at:
I’m proud to be included in these groups:
Picture: ab
:ms llo [cs 590]