[07-21-2022] Orange County, CA- Fifty-Seven-Year-Old Man Convicted of Road Rage in Placentia

According to reports, a 57-year-old man was convicted on Thursday, July 21, 2022, of a road rage collision that left a motorcyclist in critical condition and a pedestrian with a broken leg.

The accident occurred on November 19, 2018, at Orangethorpe Avenue and Hundley Way.

He was found guilty of two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of failing to stop in a hit-and-run accident with injury, all of which were felonies. Jurors also found true sentencing enhancements for causing serious bodily harm to the victims.

Begin is due to be sentenced on September 9.

According to the prosecutors’ trial brief, the victim, Richard Lee, and a friend were riding home from work when Begin, driving a Chevrolet Silverado pickup, veered into Lee’s lane and came within inches of hitting him.

Prosecutors said Lee confronted Begin when they all came to a stop at the same red light. Lee noticed Begin using his phone and reached in, grabbed it, and slapped it on the defendant’s truck before riding away.

According to a witness who called 911 after the accident, the defendant cut across traffic and chased the motorcyclists until he clipped Lee, who was thrown from the vehicle. Meanwhile, the bike continued to roll and struck Francisco Chacon, breaking his leg in the process.

According to the prosecutors, Lee suffered a fractured scapula and vertebrae, lacerations to the lung and spine, and multiple broken ribs. Lee’s friend pursued the defendant and obtained his license plate.

According to the prosecutors, the police tracked down Begin the next day.Begin told police Lee took his phone and assaulted him.

ROAD RAGE ACCIDENT STATISTICS

Across the country, approximately 30 fatalities have been linked to situations that began with road rage. Since 2007, the American Automobile Association (AAA) has linked more than 12,500 injuries in 10,000 car accidents to driver violence. The vast majority of road rage-related fatalities have been classified as intentional homicides.

According to Insurance Information Institute (III) research, approximately 80% of drivers reported significant hatred, violence, or road rage in the previous 30 days while driving in 2019.

Road rage is responsible for roughly one-third of all accidents. When drivers act carelessly or violently behind the wheel, innocent bystanders’ lives are jeopardized.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety advises people to take several precautions to avoid becoming involved in a road rage incident. If another driver is yelling or gesticulating, it is best to ignore them and avoid a confrontation. If you have enraged another driver, try to avoid them because an enraged driver can explode anytime.

Never pull over to the side of the road. Try to fall back and create a significant amount of distance between your vehicle and the enraged driver’s car, and then get out of the area as quickly as possible.

ORANGE COUNTY ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS FOR ROAD RAGE VICTIMS

Has an injury that was not your fault significantly altered your life? Arash Law may seek justice on your behalf. Your personal injury lawyer at Arash Law will work hard to get you the most money possible for your medical bills, lost wages, and other recovery expenses.

Attorneys in your area have handled similar cases to yours. They will be able to tell you if a settlement offer is reasonable or if you would be better off going to trial. A reasonable settlement can be difficult to determine for someone who is unfamiliar with personal injury law.

Arash Law’s Orange County accident lawyers strive to obtain fair compensation for you and your injured family members. To schedule your free legal consultation, contact Arash Law today.

Call Arash Law at (888) 488-1391 or fill out our online form to schedule your free personal injury case review. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can help you seek compensation for your injuries.