Fleeing Driver Causes Accident Along Watt Avenue
A hit and run resulting in injuries happened in North Highlands on February 7 when two vehicles collided. The accident was reported shortly after 3:00 p.m. along southbound Watt Avenue just north of Longview Drive. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported receiving a call from a woman who was following a white Jeep Cherokee being driven by a friend and saw it struck by the suspect vehicle. The Cherokee then spun out and crashed against a pole. The caller reported that the suspect vehicle made a left turn onto Longview and then had stopped in the lanes because their car was losing coolant in the roadway. Sacramento Fire Department emergency responders arrived to assess injuries to those inside the first vehicle. The accident is under investigation by the CHP to determine what happened.
Handling a Hit and Run
Whether on foot, riding a motorcycle or bike, or in a motor vehicle, those who are injured by a hit and run driver wonder how to pay their medical bills and other expenses. My office has a good track record of locating a hit and run driver, and when they are found, their insurance can be used to pay those costs, or they can be taken to court. Contacting our office as soon as possible after your accident is important in finding the errant driver because evidence disappears or is covered up quickly.
Insurance Coverage That Can Pay for Your Injuries
One option that injured motorists have in hit and run cases where the driver is not found is to use their uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. This optional policy provides coverage if you are injured in a collision with someone who is underinsured or does not have liability insurance. It pays for your injuries and those of anyone else who is in the vehicle, as well as for vehicle damage up to $3,500. It also covers motorcycle accident injuries as well as those to bicyclists and pedestrians. If the injured person does not carry an uninsured policy, they may use that of any family member who lives in the household. Using an uninsured/underinsured policy to reimburse expenses does not increase the rate.
How a Personal Injury Lawyer Helps in a Hit and Run
A seasoned personal injury lawyer can help you obtain fair compensation for your accident if you were injured by a hit and run driver. Our investigators are sent to the accident site immediately to find evidence to support your claim. They begin by checking the police report for mistakes and talking to witnesses who saw the accident occur. Traffic and business surveillance cameras provide excellent proof of how the accident was caused by the at-fault party. Accident reconstruction is performed as well, which shows the original position of the vehicles, how the crash happened, and how the cars ended up in their final resting places.
In addition, they look for signs of government negligence that might have contributed to the crash, such as overhanging limbs, malfunctioning lights and potholes or debris in the roadway. Once our investigators have finished, the evidence is given over to our lawyers, who use it to build a strong case for personal injury damages. This information can be used when they negotiate on your behalf with the insurance company or in preparing a case to present in civil court.
Car Accident Lawyer in North Highlands
I’m Ed Smith, a North Highlands car accident lawyer. When you’ve been injured by a hit and run driver, I may be able to help you obtain compensation to pay your medical and other associated expenses. Give me a call at (916) 921-6400 if you live in this area code or (800) 404-5400 for my free and friendly advice. I can be reached online also.
Find out about my law practice and how I have helped others by clicking on the following links:
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Since 1982, I’ve helped many people from North Highlands obtain compensation for accident injuries. These include wrongful deaths, traumatic injuries, and traffic collisions, among others.
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