Hit-and-Run Driver May Be Responsible for I-15 Crash
A fiery Interstate 15 crash in San Diego that injured three people may have been caused by a hit-and-run driver, according to police sources. An investigation of the crash, which occurred around I-15 and Old Highway 395, revealed that an SUV overcorrected to avoid vehicles making lane changes. The driver lost control, hitting a rock on the side of the road and rolling over. The SUV then caught on fire.
One person was ejected from the vehicle and all three occupants of the vehicle were taken to local hospitals with unspecified injuries.
An investigation into the events leading up to the crash showed that a hit-and-run vehicle may have started the chain of events that led to the crash. Witnesses stated that the vehicle may have been a black truck. Speed may also have been a factor in the crash.
Hit-and-Run a Growing California Problem
Hit-and-run accident rates have been climbing for several years, and recent reports show that the rate of hit-and-run victims is startlingly high for the state of California. According to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Report, 131 people died and another 18,801 were injured in 2011 by hit-and-run drivers. In some locations, such as Los Angeles, hit-and-run accidents accounted for almost half of all crashes. Hit-and-run accidents are more common in urban areas and in places where there is greater crowding on the roads, although hit-and-run can happen anywhere.
Although hit-and-run is against California law, it is sometimes difficult to find and prosecute a driver who has committed this crime. Even if the driver is identified and arrested, the victim may not recover damages from the responsible party without the help of a personal injury attorney.
How Can A Personal Injury Attorney Help in a Hit-and-Run Case?
A hit-and-run driver may be liable for a crash. However, the driver may not be identified, may not have insurance or may not have assets to pay for the damages he or she has caused. If this is the case, how can an injured victim recover damages to pay for medical bills, lost wages and other expenses related to the accident?
San Diego personal injury attorney Daniel M. Gilleon has helped many victims of hit-and-run accidents collect damages from the drivers who caused those accidents, from their own insurance companies or from others who may share responsibility for the victim’s injuries. Contact him today for more information.
