Watt Avenue Accident Injures One Person While Other Driver Flees
A hit-and-run caused injuries on January 21 in North Highlands when two vehicles collided. The accident happened on northbound Watt Avenue at McClelland Drive around 5:30 in the morning when a Kia Optima was struck. The other driver fled the scene. The accident blocked the number one lane along Watt Avenue, and an individual inside the vehicle was injured in the crash.
Authorities Seeking Hit-and-Run Driver
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is investigating the collision to find out what happened and to locate the fleeing driver, who could possibly face felony charges. It was not reported whether the person in the Kia was treated at the scene or transported to a hospital by paramedics.
Hit-and-Run Drivers
A driver who flees the scene of an accident often does so for a number of reasons. They may have outstanding tickets, be inebriated, or be uninsured. However, the penalty for fleeing the scene of an accident can be severe, including jail time and heavy fines. In my law office, we believe it’s bad enough to suffer injuries caused by a negligent driver. The injured party should not also be responsible for the financial damages the accident caused.
In the meantime, the injured person is not only experiencing the pain and suffering caused by the accident, but they are also worried about how they will pay their mounting medical costs and manage without a paycheck. That’s where my law office comes in. We handle the case to obtain the damages our client deserves, which allows them to recuperate with peace of mind.
Hunting Down a Hit-and-Run Driver
Fleeing drivers can be found in many cases, and my law firm has a good track record of locating them. Besides working alongside local authorities, our investigators looking into the hit-and-run accident do the following:
- They talk to the witnesses to see if they picked up any information about the hit-and-run driver. In some cases, we can get a description of the vehicle and even the driver. In others, some might recall even a few numbers on the license plate of the vehicle, which is helpful in locating it.
- The investigators examine the police report to ensure its accuracy.
- They perform accident reconstruction, which includes photographing the injured party’s vehicle and surrounding area. In many cases, paint smears and broken pieces off the hit-and-run vehicle can show what make and model it is, which narrows down the search.
- Video evidence is sought by looking for nearby business and traffic cameras. This type of evidence is commonly used to negotiate with insurance companies or in a court case.
When all the evidence has been compiled, our able injury attorneys use it to construct a strong case that benefits our client.
Using Insurance to Pay for Injuries
As most Californians know, all drivers in the state are offered an add-on policy for uninsured/underinsured drivers when they obtain car insurance. Many take this add-on because of the high number of drivers who either have no insurance or are underinsured. If a hit-and-run driver cannot be located, the injured party can use this insurance to pay for their accident injuries and other expenses.
If the injured party does not have this insurance but another household member does, they can use that to pay for their injuries. Using the policy will not affect the rates.
North Highlands Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a North Highlands car accident lawyer. When you’ve been injured by a negligent driver, you may be able to claim fair compensation to pay for your injuries and other losses. Please call for my free, friendly advice at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. If you prefer, you can reach me online.
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We are honored to have helped many North Highlands residents since 1982 in getting fair compensation for their wrongful death cases, traumatic injuries, and in all kinds of traffic collisions.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/car-accident-broken-glass-splatter-337764/
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