Palm Springs Hit-and-Run Accident Attorneys
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Our Palm Springs Hit-and-Run Accident Attorneys Offer Legal Guidance When The Unexpected Happens
Palm Springs, California, is one of the most famous travel destinations in the United States. Situated in the Coachella Valley of the Colorado Desert, Palm Springs attracts seasonal residents and tourists from around the world. The largest city in Riverside County, Palm Springs, is about ninety-five square miles.
Spas, golf courses, grand hotels, and hot springs distinguish Palm Springs as one of the most desirable locations in southern California. Palm Canyon Drive features great restaurants, interior design firms, and boutiques. For those more interested in venturing outdoors, Palm Springs offers horseback riding, biking, and excellent hiking trails.
Palm Springs becomes exceedingly busy and crowded during the winter months. The congestion in Palm Springs can make it more likely that an individual will be a victim of a hit-and-run accident. Arash Law can help you with the legal aspects of your hit-and-run accident case. Many people who suffer injuries during hit-and-run accidents may feel helpless when they realize the other party has abandoned them at the accident scene.
As a retirement location, Palm Springs is relatively quiet outside of the winter season. The population grows between the months of November and March of each year. During these months, seasonal residents flock to Palm Springs to enjoy the mild weather.
A vibrant arts scene also exists in Palm Springs. The primary architectural style in Palm Springs is mid-century modern. Tourists and residents may not be familiar with the roads and highways in and around Palm Springs. Unfortunately, automobile accidents are a part of life in Palm Springs.
Hit-and-run accidents are common throughout California. If you are the victim of a hit-and-run accident in Palm Springs, understanding how California law relates to this type of case can be helpful in pursuing compensation. These laws can help you decide how to proceed if you consider retaining a lawyer.
Our client was parked on the side of the road and was struck by the defendant driver traveling at a high rate of speed.– ARASH KHORSANDI
Hit-And-Run Accidents And The Laws Of California
Important elements of how California law relates to hit-and-run accidents can be found in California Vehicle Code Section 20002. Under California law, a hit-and-run accident occurs when property damage, bodily injury, or death is inflicted on another person, and an individual involved in the accident willfully fails to stop and perform the duties required of a motorist who has been involved in an automobile accident.
California law distinguishes between felony hit-and-run accidents and misdemeanor hit-and-run accidents. If a defendant did not stop and offer their contact information at the accident scene, and only property damage occurred during the accident, the defendant will be charged with a misdemeanor.
However, if the accident causes bodily injury or death, the defendant will be charged with a felony. While fleeing the scene carries criminal penalties, the question of who caused the accident is still relevant for civil claims and insurance purposes. Seemingly insignificant property damage, such as that caused by a minor incident, can still qualify as a hit-and-run accident. Drivers may not understand that they have been in an accident with another vehicle or caused property damage to a building or other structure. Law enforcement often participates in investigations regarding hit-and-run accidents.
Accidents In Palm Springs
Approximately four hundred and twenty individuals suffered bodily injuries or died during motor vehicle accidents in Palm Springs in 2012. Alcohol consumption played a role in seventy-five automobile accidents in Palm Springs. Out of the annual total, twenty-nine accidents involved bicyclists, twenty-two involved pedestrians, and twenty involved motorcyclists. The remaining accidents involved automobiles.
Sixteen of the motor vehicle accidents were hit-and-run accidents. Forty-two of the accidents occurred after sunset, and fifty-five of the accidents involved a speeding driver. These statistics can help drivers understand the elements that are more likely to be present during automobile accidents in California.
The Duties Of Drivers In California
An individual who is a party to an automobile accident during which property damage occurs or someone suffers an injury must stop and provide all reasonable assistance to any injured person.
A person involved in an automobile accident causing bodily injury or property damage must also provide their contact information to the other party or a law enforcement officer. Contact information includes a license plate number, residential address, and name. Parties involved in car accidents also typically exchange automobile insurance information. If a party is driving an automobile owned by another individual, the party must share the address and name of the registered owner.
Drivers can face criminal charges if they do not offer the requisite information or do not fulfill their required duties under California law. Also, an individual who causes property damage but cannot communicate with the owner of the property must write a note and place it securely on the property. The individual must also contact law enforcement to make an official report of the accident and property damage.
Sanctions For Individuals Involved In Hit-and-Run Accidents
If an individual did not fulfill their duties under California law, and only property damage occurred due to the accident, they will be charged with a misdemeanor. An offender charged with a misdemeanor hit-and-run accident may face the following sanctions:
- Two points will be added to the individual’s California motor vehicle report.
- Restitution payments to victims who suffered personal injuries.
- Restitution payments for property damage that occurred during the accident.
- $1,000 fine and other financial payments.
- A maximum three-year term of informal probation.
- A maximum six-month term of imprisonment in county jail.
These sanctions apply to individuals who violate California Vehicle Code Section 20002. Violators charged under California Vehicle Code Section 20001 may be convicted of a felony. It is essential to understand that individuals who violate California Vehicle Code Section 20001 may be charged with either a misdemeanor or a felony. Any person who violates California Vehicle Code Section 20001 and is charged with a misdemeanor may face the following penalties:
- Ninety days of imprisonment if a victim suffered serious bodily injuries or death.
- A maximum twelve-month term of imprisonment in county jail.
- A fine ranging from a $1,000 minimum to a $10,000 maximum.
Individuals who violate California Vehicle Code Section 20001 and are charged with a felony may face the following sanctions:
- A two-year to a four-year term of imprisonment if a victim suffers serious bodily injury or death.
- A minimum sixteen-month term of imprisonment.
- A maximum three-year term of imprisonment.
- A fine ranging from a $1,000 minimum to a $10,000 maximum.
Dealing With Civil Compromises And California Law
The defendant’s lawyer may suggest that a pending hit-and-run case be resolved through a civil compromise. This generally applies to first-time offenders whose cases do not involve additional elements such as driving under the influence of alcohol.
The relevant California law regarding civil compromises is Penal Code Section 1377. Individuals who suffer property damage or bodily injuries can pursue financial compensation under a civil lawsuit rather than a criminal case. However, civil compromises are generally available only in misdemeanor cases, allowing certain charges to be resolved through an agreement with the victim.
A civil compromise is not synonymous with an acquittal or dismissal. However, a civil compromise may benefit the individual charged with a hit-and-run misdemeanor because it may lead to reduced or dismissed charges, depending on the circumstances.
Our hit-and-run accident lawyers in Palm Springs can assess your case before accepting civil compromises. The defendant’s lawyers may offer a low settlement amount. We aim to protect your rights as an accident victim during these negotiations.
Causes Of A Hit-and-Run Accident
Hit-and-run accidents feature many different causes and variables. The following elements are often relevant to traffic accidents:
- Driving while having children or animals in the vehicle.
- Switching radio stations while driving.
- Texting and driving.
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- The mechanical condition of the vehicle.
- Road conditions.
- A driver traveling at an excessive rate of speed.
- The design of the automobile.
Data related to traffic collisions establishes that more automobile accidents occur when individuals drive at an excessive rate of speed or when individuals drive at a slower-than-average rate of speed. Automobile accidents are more likely to happen when a driver travels at a greater rate of speed. Serious bodily injuries and death are also more likely to occur when a driver speeds.
Approximately ninety percent of all traffic collisions involve alcohol or drugs, errors made by drivers, and other human elements.
Young male drivers have more car accidents than drivers in other demographics. However, drivers who are younger than twenty-four years of age often have relatively good reflexes related to avoiding accidents. Drivers who are older have inferior reaction times, but they drive less often and more carefully.
Elderly drivers and young drivers are the two demographics most likely to be involved in automobile accidents resulting in serious bodily injuries or death. Those who are driving during their first year have the most car accidents. Also, a specific location may be inherently dangerous and feature more car accidents than other places. Drivers who perceive an area as being more dangerous may also drive more carefully.
Rollover accidents are extremely dangerous. Drivers who do not wear safety belts are more likely to die during rollover accidents. Approximately eighty-three percent of rollover accidents are fatal when the driver fails to wear a safety belt. Twenty-five percent of rollover accidents are fatal when the driver wears a safety belt. Also, motorcyclists are more likely to experience bodily injuries than those who drive automobiles.
Verdict in a mild traumatic brain injury case involving a motor vehicle collision.
– JUDD ROSS ALLEN
Insurance Companies And Hit-and-Run Accidents In Palm Springs
Insurance companies often conduct thorough investigations to validate insurance claims. Individuals who suffer injuries during hit-and-run accidents can get legal support from a Palm Springs hit-and-run accident attorney when it comes to navigating the claims process. At Arash Law, our hit-and-run accident lawyers assist those injured in motorcycle, pedestrian, and bicycle accidents who are abandoned at the accident scene.
Families may lose a member during a hit-and-run accident. Surviving family members can seek out Palm Springs wrongful death attorneys who handle hit-and-run accidents for help. Wrongful death cases can be more complex than other personal injury cases. Having our skilled hit-and-run accident attorneys by your side can help you focus on grieving and healing while we handle the legal aspects of your case.
Wrongful death cases can involve complicated calculations that may seem obscure to surviving family members. A wrongful death attorney can help you understand how damages are calculated in these types of cases.
Lawyers can connect you with healthcare professionals who can treat your injuries under medical liens. Whether you have suffered an injury during a motorcycle, pedestrian, bicycle, or car accident, you can receive the medical treatment you need without paying upfront costs. Doctors who treat you on a medical lien basis will receive payment after your hit-and-run accident case settles.
Hit-and-run accident attorneys can request copies of traffic collision reports. Legal counsel can also help you seek monetary compensation for your injuries. If your automobile was damaged during a hit-and-run accident, a lawyer could help you obtain a rental vehicle.
A hit-and-run accident case may involve damages for personal injuries, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. Knowledgeable hit-and-run accident lawyers can also help you evaluate medical bills related to the incident. Hit-and-run accident lawyers can assess your other losses to determine the appropriate settlement amount. Insurance companies may not be able to provide the information you need about your hit-and-run accident case.
You may choose to handle your hit-and-run accident case on your own. However, certain issues may arise when dealing with insurance companies. Claims adjusters may encourage you to make a statement regarding your case. Take caution when making this statement since anything you say can affect your claim.
Some insurance companies may provide an immediate settlement offer. The settlement offer may fail to address the pain and suffering you endured during a hit-and-run accident. It might not account for other damages, such as lost earnings, future medical treatment, and the loss of use of your automobile. If you need help pursuing financial compensation for these things, consider retaining our Palm Springs hit-and-run accident lawyers.
In addition, representatives of insurance companies are not obligated to help you find medical professionals who can treat you on medical liens. Depending on your policy, your own insurance company may be responsible for compensating you for the injuries you suffered during a hit-and-run accident. However, insurance companies may not provide you with financial assistance to rent a replacement vehicle.
The Statute Of Limitations And Personal Injury Cases In California
In California, the statute of limitations is a time limit regarding when injured victims can bring legal claims for damages. Personal injury actions in California typically have a two-year statute of limitations, meaning that an injured person can file a legal claim no later than two years after the date of the injury. Nevertheless, exceptions may apply in certain cases. An experienced hit-and-run accident attorney can walk you through how the statute of limitations may affect your case.
Speak With Our Palm Springs Hit-and-Run Accident Attorneys
Contact Arash Law, headed by Arash Khorsandi, Esq., at (888) 488-1391 if you are in need of hit-and-run accident attorneys. We can help you seek financial compensation for your injuries. We have years of experience representing clients in hit-and-run accident cases throughout California.
Our skilled attorneys can help you with the legal aspects of your hit-and-run accident case. We will not take lawyer fees unless we obtain monetary compensation for your injuries. Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not pay our fees unless we win or settle your case. Please note that you may still be responsible for certain case-related costs regardless of the outcome. Our attorneys will discuss our fee structure during your free initial consultation.
Retaining experienced Palm Springs hit-and-run accident lawyers at Arash Law can help you pursue the monetary compensation available to you under the law. We can discuss the facts of your case during a free initial consultation. Our knowledgeable hit-and-run accident attorneys have helped clients seek financial compensation for their injuries.
We have helped clients throughout California, including the following areas around Palm Springs: Twentynine Palms, Yucaipa, Beaumont, Hemet, San Jacinto, Coachella, East Hemet, Yucca Valley, Indio, Banning, La Quinta, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Desert Hot Springs, and Cathedral City.
