Napa Cyclist Reports Hit-And-Run
I’m Ed Smith, a Napa car accident lawyer. On Wednesday, March 22, 2017, a resident of Napa reported to the local paper, the Napa Valley Register, that they had been involved in a hit-and-run collision while riding their bicycle in Napa.
What Happened?
The victim of the accident reported that they had been riding their bicycle down Jefferson Street only a short distance south of the intersection at Trower Avenue when a large brown van turned into a church parking lot. According to their report, the van turned so suddenly that the cyclist had no time to avoid crashing into the broadside of the van. After falling off their bicycle, the victim reported that they noticed the driver of the van look into the driver’s side mirror of their vehicle, notice that they had been involved in a collision, and continue driving.
Were There Injuries?
Thankfully, the victim of the accident did not report any serious injuries. Damages to the bicycle as well as the vehicle involved in the collision are also unknown. It is possible for injuries to be detected even months after trauma has been sustained and if you are involved in an accident such as this, it is always a good idea to seek medical attention in order to screen for serious injuries that can cause complications if left untreated.
Hit-and-Run Accidents
Statistics show that the prevalence of hit-and-run crashes in the United States is on the rise and has been for over a decade. In 2003, SFGate published an article highlighting the fact that the state of California has not only seen a dramatic increase in hit-and-run accidents, but that, out of all of the states in the U.S., California had the highest rate of drivers that fled from the scenes of fatal accidents.
In 2013, USA Today published statistics that confirmed the trend that SFGate highlighted; hit-and-run accidents continued to rise in frequency and are shown to still be a devastating issue in the golden state. USA Today’s article indicates that there was a 13.7 percent increase in deaths caused by hit-and-run accidents over a period of three years and described the problem, in certain parts of the state, as “an absolute plague.” In fact, hit-and-run accidents were so frequent in 2013, that in Los Angeles county alone, 4,525 injury-causing and fatal hit-and-run collisions were recorded, making up more than eight percent of injury and fatal crashes in general.
The problem certainly continues to this day, as hit-and-run crashes remain a major problem for cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists.
Seeking Treatment
In the event of a hit-and-run collision, victims are often worried about seeking medical attention because they fear they will not be able to obtain compensation for their expenses. Usually, the at-fault driver’s insurance will cover these costs, but if the driver has escaped, recovering compensation can be complicated. However, even if it is unclear how the hospital bills will be settled, it is vital that you seek treatment for your injuries. Not only will seeking treatment help to protect your health, but doing so may also be critical later on when you file a claim. If medical attention is not sought early on, insurance adjusters are liable to question the validity of your injuries and may reduce or even deny your claim.
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Napa Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Napa accident lawyer. If you have been injured, call me at (707) 564-1900 for free and friendly advice. Or, give me a call toll-free at (800) 404-5400.
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