Car accidents in San Diego County often cause serious injuries and, sometimes, fatalities. Many of these car accidents usually involve human error, human carelessness, or a driver’s negligence. A high number of these accidents are also hit and run accidents, in which one driver hits another and leaves the scene of the accident to avoid taking responsibility.
More than 2,000 deaths resulted from 1,980 hit and run crashes in the U.S. in 2016, per estimates from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Over 300 of these fatalities occurred in California in the same year. California also had the highest number of hit and run fatalities of any state.
To combat the occurrence of such deaths, many states have enacted strict laws to punish hit and run drivers. In general, drivers who leave the scene of a hit and run accident may be arrested and ticketed. In severe cases, drivers could also face jail time.
If you have been seriously hurt in San Diego due to the carelessness of a hit and run driver, you should not have to shoulder the financial burden of the costs of your injuries. Instead, you might want to contact a San Diego hit and run accident lawyer at Ben Crump Law, PLLC, to seek advice and counsel surrounding your injuries. Call us at (844) 730-0233 for your initial no-fee consultation. We will listen to the details of your accident and may suggest ways that we can be of assistance.
Common Reasons for Hit and Run Accident
- Distracted driving: According to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving caused more than 2,800 deaths in 2018.
- Sleep-deprived driving: When drivers do not have enough sleep, they can get tired behind the wheel and cause hit and run accidents in their drowsy driving.
- Inebriated Driving: Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol causes many serious injuries and fatalities every year in the U.S.
- Speeding or driving too fast for conditions: Speeding makes it more difficult to stop quickly to avoid hitting a pedestrian or a bicyclist. Failure to observe posted speed limits can lead to hit and run accidents.
If you have been seriously injured while in your car, on a bike, or walking through an intersection by an at-fault hit and run driver, you might want to hire a San Diego hit and run accident lawyer at Ben Crump Law, PLLC. Speak with the team to explore your options for seeking a financial settlement for losses from the accident. Learn how a lawsuit might be able to help you recover compensation related to medical costs, trauma, loss of limbs, lost income, and more.
For a free legal consultation with a hit and run accidents lawyer serving San Diego, call (844) 730-0233
California Hit and Run Law
California hit and run law applies to drivers in a variety of situations. Under California Vehicle Code (VEH) §20002, it is illegal for a driver to leave a car accident scene without first reporting the accident with the police, or alerting the other driver, bicyclist, or pedestrian about the accident.
In a small fender bender collision in a parking garage or parking lot, a driver can choose to call the police, or simply leave a note on the other car’s windshield with contact information for a small damage claim for the insurance companies to deal with. A hit and run accident occurs when drivers may just drive off, hoping to avoid having to take responsibility for their actions.
San Diego Hit and Run Accident Lawyer Near Me (844) 730-0233
Make a Hit and Run Accident Claim
After getting hurt in a hit and run accident, you might want to file a claim with your insurance company to see if you are covered in such an accident. You might also be contacted by the driver’s insurance company with a quick settlement offer for your hospital costs and injuries.
If you want to pursue further compensation, you might want to decline the initial offer. Once you accept an insurance payout, you usually have to agree not to bring a civil lawsuit for personal injuries later on.
Making a claim for economic and non-economic damages might be an option after your accident. Our legal team might be able to help you find the at-fault driver liable for the cost of treating the injuries you suffered in the accident. For example, we might be able to help with a claim for:
- Hospitalization costs, surgery costs, emergency room stays, hospital stays, recurring medical visits, physical rehabilitation, follow-up doctor visits, and more
- Lost income because you are too injured to go back to work
- Emotional damage and related trauma from the accident, including pain and suffering
- Punitive damages for the hit and run driver’s reckless behavior
When determining liability in an accident, the state of California recognizes comparative negligence, which means that several parties may be found at-fault and have to share liability for damages. Depending on the circumstances, liability might fall solely on the other driver or split between you and the other parties involved.
To handle these complexities in a hit and run accident in San Diego, you might want to get legal help from an attorney. Call (844) 730-0233 to hire a San Diego hit and run accident lawyer at Ben Crump Law, PLLC, to support you in managing your claim. We could be able to help your fight against a reckless hit and run driver.
Call or text (844) 730-0233 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
