Pedestrian Killed in Crash Near Golden Valley High
Officials are investigating a hit-and-run crash that killed a pedestrian near Golden Valley High in Merced on the early morning of Monday, August 16, 2021. Officers with the Merced Police Department (Merced PD) responded to the scene shortly before 1:00 a.m. at Watertown Drive and East Childs Avenue.
Details on the Pedestrian vs Car Crash Near Golden Valley High
The report of the pedestrian accident was made by a passing motorist who found a man lying in the road close to the intersection, Merced PD reported. First responders were dispatched to the scene to render life-saving measures. Unfortunately, they were unsuccessful, and the pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene.
A preliminary investigation by authorities revealed that a 22-year-old man was behind the wheel of a 2004 Mercedes-Benz that was traveling on East Childs Avenue. For unknown reasons, the Mercedes-Benz collided with 43-year-old Jaime Sanchez of Merced who was walking in the area. The Mercedes-Benz driver initially left the scene before returning approximately 15 minutes afterward. The motorist was cooperative with officials and did not show any signs of intoxication, Merced PD reported.
The Mercedes-Benz driver was arrested and booked on suspicion of felony hit and run. He was later released after being cited, officials said. The incident remains under investigation and authorities are searching for video surveillance footage that may have captured the fatal accident.
What You Should Know About Hit-and-Run Accidents
A hit and run accident may affect anyone on the road, from drivers and motorcycle riders to cyclists and pedestrians. Whether you were driving down the road or crossing in a marked crosswalk, there may be recourse in your situation. However, options for financial recovery will vary on whether the at-fault party has been located and evidence establishing that a hit-and-run accident occurred.
When a driver responsible for a hit-and-run crash cannot be located, the injured party or family of a decedent may turn to their uninsured motorist (UM) coverage that is part of their auto insurance policy for recourse. What is great about UM coverage that many people may not know is that it may extend to other members of the household who have been injured or killed in a crash caused by a driver without liability coverage or one that has fled the accident scene.
While the claim will be handled by your insurance carrier, that does not necessarily mean that they will make the process easy for recovering fair compensation. Insurers may resort to defense tactics to downplay or deny claims as a way of protecting their profit margins. For more details on UM coverage and what to expect from the process, watch this video.
What Our Law Firm Can Do for Your Family
At our law firm, we have represented those who have been injured or have lost loved ones in hit-and-run accidents since 1982. Our legal team will work with investigators to identify the at-fault party who left the accident scene and hold them liable for the harm they have caused.
Time is of the essence in these cases as evidence may be lost or destroyed in the days, weeks, and months that follow. The sooner you can provide an injury lawyer with details on the incident, the sooner the attorney may work to help you identify the other party. Contact us today to learn more about how our law firm may help you and your family through this difficult time.
Personal Injury Attorney in Merced
I’m Ed Smith, a Merced personal injury attorney. Getting injured or losing someone you love in a crash caused by a negligent driver who left the scene can be devastating and stressful. If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a hit-and-run accident in Merced County, contact our injury lawyers today for free, friendly advice at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400. Our legal team is available anytime to answer your questions and go over the details of your case. We handle all cases under a contingency fee arrangement, meaning that we will not charge any costs or fees unless we recover fair compensation on your behalf.
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Additional information about our personal injury law firm, including the types of motor vehicle accident cases we have handled in the past and their outcomes, may be found on our Verdicts and Settlements page.
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