Accident at Fulton Avenue Intersection Involves Hit-and-Run Driver
A hit-and-run pedestrian accident occurred on March 1 in the Sacramento metropolitan area that resulted in injuries. The collision happened at the intersection of Fulton and Edison avenues around 6:30 p.m. when a vehicle struck someone with a bicycle in the Arden-Arcade area. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the driver then fled the scene without stopping to offer assistance and exchange information.
Fleeing Driver Sought in Hit-and-Run Injury Accident
The CHP is conducting an investigation following the accident to locate the fleeing driver and determine how the hit-and-run happened. No information was released on how serious the injuries were to the pedestrian.
Hit-and-Run Accidents
Unfortunately, hit-and-run accidents have become as common in our part of California as elsewhere. There are a number of reasons that drivers flee the scene, including a lack of insurance, drunk driving, fear of arrest, and others. However, they can be found in many cases. My law firm has a strong track record of locating a fleeing driver. When they are located, their insurance company can be held responsible for injuries to a pedestrian or bicyclist. If the driver has no insurance, a claim can be placed in civil court.
How We Locate a Hit-and-Run Driver
Locating a hit-and-run driver takes investigative tactics, tenacity, and a strong urge to see justice done. Some of the areas in which our investigators search for evidence to identify the vehicle and driver include:
- Information is gleaned from the police report and checked to ensure its accuracy.
- Witnesses are interviewed. In some cases, a witness may have recognized the model and make of the vehicle or can describe the driver. In addition, remembering even two or three numbers from the license place can help locate the driver.
- Accident reconstruction is performed by the investigators. Not only is the accident reconstructed to show how it occurred, but photos are taken, and evidence is gathered that can help locate the vehicle. Oftentimes in a collision, paint specks or smears are left behind, and pieces of metal are dropped. Since paint colors are specific to a vehicle model and year and even a make of car, this narrows it down.
- The investigators look for video footage of the accident from nearby business, road, and traffic surveillance cameras. This can display the accident in real time and identify the vehicle.
- In some cases, the neighborhood may be canvassed. Often, a hit-and-run driver lives in the area.
- Auto body shops can be checked. A collision with a pedestrian or other vehicle often causes severe damage to a vehicle. The owner or driver of the car will want to try and have it repaired quickly to avoid getting caught.
Using Insurance to Pay for Injuries After a Hit-and-Run
Not all hit-and-run drivers can be located, and this leaves the injured person wondering how they will manage to pay their medical bills and be compensated for lost income and their pain and suffering. However, the injured person’s uninsured/underinsured policy will cover their losses. This type of add-on is offered when a motorist elects to take out an auto insurance policy. It also covers pedestrian, motorcycle and other types of accident injuries. If the pedestrian or injured person does not have this type of insurance and a member of the household does, that can be used. It does not affect the rates in the future.
Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer
My name is Ed Smith, and I’m a Sacramento personal injury lawyer. Contact me for free, friendly advice if you were injured by a negligent motorist to see if you may be able to claim fair compensation for your injuries. I can be reached at (916) 921-6400 in the Sacramento metropolitan area or (800) 404-5400 from other parts of Northern California. I can also be contacted online.
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Since 1982, my legal team and I have helped many Northern Californians in obtaining compensation for their pedestrian injuries, traumas, all kinds of wrongful deaths and traffic collisions.
Attributed photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/city-streets-bike-bicycle-guy-man-925223/
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