[11-02-2024] San Diego County, CA – Two Women Injured in College East Hit-And-Run Collision

Two young women were injured after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in the College East neighborhood of San Diego early Saturday morning, November 2, 2024.

According to the San Diego Police Department, officers responded around 12:30 a.m. to the 5000 block of College Avenue.

Initial reports indicate that the suspect, driving a black or silver BMW, was heading south on College Avenue when the two women, aged 20 and 19, ran in front of the vehicle.

The BMW struck both women and fled the scene without stopping. The 20-year-old woman suffered a fractured left arm and a lacerated lung that required surgery, while the 19-year-old woman sustained a lacerated liver, also requiring surgery.

The injuries were serious but not life-threatening. Authorities noted that alcohol was a contributing factor in the incident.

The San Diego Police Department’s Traffic Division is leading the investigation.

Call The Dedicated DUI Accident Victim Lawyers In San Diego, CA

In a DUI accident, the negligent party is responsible for paying the damages sustained by the victim, including medical bills, missed wages, and other financial expenses. Getting compensated for a DUI accident can be challenging, but our injury law firm in San Diego can help.

Get legal advice from our expert San Diego DUI accident victim lawyers, under the direction of Arash Khorsandi, Esq., who can help you assess your case. Our legal team will do everything possible to advocate for your claim and safeguard your rights. Being one of the largest law firms specializing in personal injury cases in California, Arash Law has successfully obtained over $750 Million in compensation for clients.

To arrange a free initial consultation with one of our personal injury attorneys, please call (888) 488-1391 or fill out our “Do I Have a Case?” form.

Ways To Protect Yourself After Being A Victim Of DUI Accident In San Diego, CA

Insurance providers support the majority of claims related to accidents caused by drunk driving. One of the critical things you should be aware of is that the insurance provider is always impartial. Keep in mind that their top priority is to safeguard their financial interests; they are focused on their earnings and not on providing complete and equitable compensation to you and your family.

Following a DUI collision, you can receive a phone call or inquiry from the insurance company of the driver at fault. Exercise caution while considering this kind of request. Our San Diego DUI accident victim attorneys have gathered these suggestions for handling the insurance company following an injury in a drunk-driving crash.

1. Stay Calm And Contact The Authorities. Make it a priority to get prompt medical care and reach out to the appropriate authorities to handle any injuries you may have suffered.
2. Gather Information. Capture images of your injuries and any indications of negligence, and create thorough records of the incident. Make sure to get information from any witnesses who were there during the accident.
3. Never Admit or Accept the Blame. In DUI incidents, insurance companies frequently assign some blame to the injured victim. If they can do that, it will enable them to decrease their liability. This implies that funds are being deducted directly from their finances.Never acknowledge or take responsibility for any of the mistakes in a DUI accident. An intoxicated driver should be responsible for their wrongdoing. Furthermore, victims are advised against openly discussing the issue of fault with an insurance adjuster. This is one of the common mistakes people tend to make following any vehicular accident.
4. Avoid Making a Statement. You are not required to provide a documented statement to the insurance company right away following an accident. You may receive numerous phone calls from an insurance adjuster requesting a statement. The reason for this is straightforward: they want to gather information that might be used against you during the claims procedure. Remain silent. Your words might be manipulated or misunderstood. Arrange for communication between you and the insurance company to be conducted via your attorney.
5. Avoid Early Settlement Negotiations. Regarding DUI accident lawsuits, insurers frequently find it challenging to dodge liability completely. Therefore, they change their strategies. When responsibility is evident, insurance companies restrict the amount of compensation given to an injured person. One typical strategy is to propose a fast, underestimated payment to the victim of the DUI accident. Don’t accept a settlement that is less than what you deserve. Allow your DUI accident victim attorney to handle negotiations for a settlement.
6. Do Not Sign Any Documents. It is advisable to seek legal advice before signing any documents from an insurance company. Frequently, insurance companies will request that wounded individuals sign a complete release of their medical records. Ignore their assertion that a paper is ‘standard procedure.’ They are seeking information to utilize to decrease your compensation. You might not have to provide them with complete access to your records. Your attorney will ensure that your rights are protected.
7. Work With Experienced DUI Accident Victim Lawyers. There is no need to confront a large insurance company by yourself. Most DUI accident injury claims involve a significant amount of money. The insurance companies will allocate resources to find ways to reduce your settlement amount. To promptly protect your rights, it is advisable to cooperate only with the insurance company after engaging with skilled DUI accident victim lawyers in California.

I HAD AN ACCIDENT

DUI Accident Statistics

According to the NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis, in 2020, there were 11,654 fatalities resulting from motor vehicle traffic crashes involving at least one alcohol-impaired driver, accounting for 30% of all traffic fatalities in the United States that year. This marked a 14.3 percent increase in fatalities due to alcohol-impaired driving, rising from 10,196 in 2019 to 11,654 in 2020.

On average, one fatality related to alcohol-impaired driving occurred every 45 minutes. The age groups of 21 to 24 years and 25 to 34 years had the highest percentages of alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes, with each group representing 26 percent of such incidents in 2020.

The highest percentage of alcohol-impaired drivers in fatal crashes was among motorcycle riders at 27%, followed by drivers of passenger cars at 23%, light trucks at 19%, and large trucks at 3%. Among the 1,093 traffic fatalities in 2020 involving children aged 14 and younger, 21 percent (229 fatalities) occurred in crashes involving alcohol-impaired driving.

Additionally, 67 percent (7,831) of the 11,654 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities involved crashes where at least one driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of.15 g/dL or higher. Notably, the rate of alcohol impairment among drivers involved in fatal crashes was 3.1 times higher at night compared to during the day in 2020.