Accident on South Watt Avenue Injures Two in Three-Vehicle Crash
A hit-and-run crash in Rosemont on December 8 sent two people to a hospital. The accident happened around midnight on South Watt Avenue between Alderson Avenue and Canberra Drive. Officers with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and Sac Metro Fire responders were at the scene where they discovered two vehicles with major damage and one individual trapped in their vehicle.
Injured Person Extracted From Vehicle
Firefighters extricated the trapped person from their vehicle and transported that injured individual to a nearby hospital. An additional injured person was found in the other vehicle, and a second medical unit was called to the scene. That individual was also transported to the hospital. Both of the injured were described as having suffered moderate injuries.
Injuries May Have Resulted From Hit-and-Run Crash
Later on in the investigation, the CHP determined that there was involvement by a third vehicle in the accident. However, that driver fled the scene before police and first responders arrived. The traffic along northbound South Watt Avenue was shut down to traffic as far as Jackson Road. This enabled the CHP to investigate the hit-and-run crash scene and clear the vehicles.
Reasons for a Hit-and-Run Crash
The number of hit-and-run crashes has escalated in the past decade, despite high penalties and fines. Some of the reasons this happens are:
- Driving without a license: In this case, the driver leaves the scene of the accident because he or she recognizes that the police will check for a valid driver’s license. Unfortunately, the penalties for leaving are much higher than those for driving without a license.
- Lack of registration: In California, drivers are required to have their cars registered legally. Many motor vehicle operators fail to do that for a variety of reasons. However, the end result is the same – they leave the scene of the accident.
- Insurance: The number of uninsured drivers in California is said to be approximately 4.1 million. Without insurance, police will confiscate the vehicle, and the person’s driver’s license is in jeopardy. Again, they leave the scene of the accident rather than admit to not having insurance.
- Warrants: Drivers may have outstanding warrants due to a variety of reasons. If they remain at the scene of the accident, the warrants will show up on a background check.
- Panic: The urge to run when something bad happens is ingrained in the human mind, dating back to our ancestors. After an accident, some people choose to run rather than assume responsibility. Many times, such motor vehicle operators will return or go to a police station once they’ve had a chance to consider the situation.
Investigating a Car Accident
The result of a claim against a negligent driver largely depends on evidence. At our law firm, we send our investigative team to the scene of the hit-and-run crash as soon as it is possible. Once they arrive, they begin to interview witnesses to the accident, scour the area for clues as to the driver’s identity and often go door to door trying to get more information about the accident and the driver.
Videos of the accident from nearby cameras supply information that pinpoints not only how it happened but often who was involved. This is a valuable tool when trying to locate a hit-and-run driver and in determining liability. Our investigators also perform accident reconstruction to show the position of the vehicle before, during, and after the hit-and-run crash. They also examine police reports for inaccuracies since the documents are widely used in negotiations and in court.
Once the evidence is gathered, our investigators turn it over to our injury attorneys. It is used to build a robust case to benefit our clients.
Rosemont Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, and I’m a Rosemont car accident lawyer. Call for my free, friendly advice at (916) 921-6400 or from long-distance at (800) 404-5400. You can also message me online.
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I’ve helped injured Rosemont residents obtain the compensation they deserve for their car accidents, wrongful deaths, and other types of accidents since 1982.
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