San Diego Hit-and-Run Accident Attorneys
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San Diego Hit-and-Run Accident Attorneys Providing Compassionate Help, Skilled Representation
Located in the southernmost part of California, San Diego is one of the most diverse cities in the United States. Bordering Tijuana, Mexico, San Diego is located on the Pacific coast near famous beach destinations such as La Jolla, California. Home to approximately 1,380,000 residents, San Diego is one of the most populous cities in California and the United States. Los Angeles is the only city in California with a population greater than San Diego.
San Diego is located in San Diego County, home to 3,300,000 individuals. San Diego is recognized worldwide as one of the most attractive and notable cities in the United States. Amazing weather is one of the most distinguishing characteristics of San Diego. Also, Coronado Island is one of the most recognizable places in San Diego, and it is connected to the city by the Coronado Bridge.
The United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps have also long been associated with San Diego. More recently, the city has become a hub for the healthcare industry and bioengineering firms. Arash Law is a personal injury law firm in California dedicated to providing experienced legal support for victims of hit-and-run accidents.
Due to its popularity among tourists and its large number of residents, many automobile accidents occur in San Diego. Suffering injuries during a traffic collision can cause victims to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. Fear and stress can make it more difficult for accident victims to heal from their injuries.
A San Diego hit-and-run accident attorney can offer you legal representation and help you pursue compensation for your injuries. A legal advocate on your side can speak on your behalf during hearings, obtain expert witnesses for your case, and gather any important evidence.
(No guarantee of outcome. Results displayed were dependent on unique facts of that case, and different facts will bring different results.)
San Diego And Hit-and-Run Accidents
Every party involved in a car accident in San Diego must provide assistance to any injured party. California law requires that parties remain at the scene of the accident. Individuals who abandon the accident scene and leave on foot or by automobile may be found guilty of a hit-and-run accident offense.
Individuals who are left behind at an accident scene may not realize what to do to obtain the help they need. A driver, passenger, or pedestrian may be stuck beneath an automobile or another heavy object after an automobile accident. Law enforcement officers must investigate hit-and-run accidents to discover the location of the driver who abandoned the accident scene.
Injured victims are often unable to seek the financial compensation they need to pay for their medical bills and cover their lost earnings. San Diego hit-and-run accident lawyers understand how confusing it can be to determine what to do if the hit-and-run driver remains unidentified.
In one year, approximately 1,150 hit-and-run accidents were reported in San Diego County. Hit-and-run accidents often cause serious bodily injury and death. Almost 1,200 individuals died or suffered serious injuries during a one-year period in San Diego County. On average, nearly three hit-and-run accidents occur every day in San Diego County.
Individuals of every age and demographic are susceptible to being injured in a hit-and-run accident. Every age group may suffer injuries or die during hit-and-run accidents in San Diego County.
Retaining A Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer In San Diego
Hit-and-run accidents are taken seriously by law enforcement officers throughout California. Law enforcement agencies will analyze the circumstances of a car accident and determine who fled the scene of the accident. These investigators have one priority: apprehend the victim who is responsible for the hit-and-run accident.
If you or someone close to you is injured or worse in a hit-and-run accident, consulting a skilled and knowledgeable hit-and-run accident lawyer can be helpful in moving forward with your case.
An experienced hit-and-run accident lawyer in San Diego County can help you with the following:
- Filing a complaint to initiate a civil lawsuit.
- Speaking with insurers to file an uninsured/underinsured motorist claim.
- Obtaining evidence that will support your case.
- Assisting law enforcement in finding the hit-and-run driver.
- Conducting witness interviews.
- Analyzing the accident scene.
- Reconstructing the events that caused the hit-and-run accident.
As an injured victim, you may not know how you will afford your medical bills or return to your job. You may feel stressed and anxious about how you will recover from your injuries. A legal advocate can help you understand the complexities of a hit-and-run accident case. If you take things one step at a time with your San Diego hit-and-run accident lawyers, you may have an opportunity to seek financial compensation for your injuries.
What Kinds Of Hit-and-Run Accidents Happen In San Diego?
Hit-and-run accidents frequently occur in San Diego. However, all the accidents in San Diego are not uniform. The following are the common types of hit-and-run accidents that take place in San Diego:
- Overturn collisions constitute 2.3 percent of hit-and-run accidents in San Diego.
- Head-on collisions constitute 6 percent of hit-and-run accidents in San Diego.
- Accidents in which a party strikes an object constitute 7.4 percent of hit-and-run accidents in San Diego.
- Pedestrian accidents constitute 4.2 percent of hit-and-run accidents in San Diego.
- Broadside accidents constitute 14.2 percent of hit-and-run accidents in San Diego.
- Sideswipe accidents constitute 14.9 percent of hit-and-run accidents in San Diego.
- Rear-end collisions constitute 37.5 percent of hit-and-run accidents in San Diego.
Many hit-and-run accidents involve only one automobile. Also, many pedestrians suffered injuries during hit-and-run accidents. Nearly ⅓ of all hit-and-run accidents in San Diego affect one individual who uses a mode of transportation other than a passenger automobile. The following statistics provide a brief snapshot of the types of hit-and-run accidents that happen in San Diego:
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
Approximately four hundred hit-and-run accidents that involve a mode of transportation other than a passenger vehicle occur every day.
What Are The Primary Events Causing Hit-and-Run Accidents In San Diego?
Drivers often abandon an accident scene because they fear criminal charges or being financially liable for another party’s injuries. The following are some of the common reasons why hit-and-run drivers abandon the scene of an accident:
- Operating a Motor Vehicle Without a Valid Driver’s License — Individuals in California may face being charged with a misdemeanor if they are found to be driving without a valid license. Those convicted of this offense may face up to 6 months in jail and a monetary fine of $1,000. A driver may face a lesser charge known as an infraction, which comes with a fine of $250.
- Driving With an Active Arrest Warrant — Drivers may flee an accident to avoid being arrested by law enforcement officers.
- Distracted Driving — An individual may have caused an accident while texting and driving or engaging in some other form of distracted driving.
- Driving Without Automobile Insurance — Drivers may leave the scene of an accident because they do not have automobile liability insurance.
- Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs — Drivers will often flee an accident scene to avoid being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The following are the main causes of hit-and-run accidents in San Diego County:
- 28.7 percent of hit-and-run accidents in San Diego County are caused by speeding.
- 3.4 percent of hit-and-run accidents in San Diego County are caused by following too closely.
- 3.5 percent of hit-and-run accidents in San Diego County are caused by unsafe starting or backing up.
- 3.9 percent of hit-and-run accidents in San Diego County are caused by pedestrian violations.
- 5.1 percent of hit-and-run accidents in San Diego County are caused by pedestrian right-of-way violations.
- 5.6 percent of hit-and-run accidents in San Diego County are caused by unsafe lane changes.
- 6.6 percent of hit-and-run accidents in San Diego County are caused by traffic signals and signs.
- 6.9 percent of hit-and-run accidents in San Diego County are caused by individuals who fail to yield the right-of-way.
- 10.7 percent of hit-and-run accidents in San Diego County are caused by individuals driving or bicycling while intoxicated.
- 14.7 percent of hit-and-run accidents in San Diego County are caused by individuals making improper turns.
Nothing excuses an individual from violating California law by leaving the scene of an accident. Drivers in California must stop at an accident scene even if they did not cause the accident. Drivers must also stop even though the accident did not cause personal injuries or property damage.
California Hit-and-Run Laws
Leaving the scene of an accident violates California law. Hit-and-run accidents are defined by the following elements:
- A driver is a participant in a motor vehicle accident.
- A driver caused serious bodily injury or death to another person.
- A driver causes property damage to another person’s property.
- The driver had knowledge that they were in a motor vehicle accident.
- The driver did not stop at the accident scene, provide assistance, or give their personal information to law enforcement officers.
California Vehicle Code 20002 states the following: “The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in damage to any property, including vehicles, shall immediately stop the vehicle at the nearest location that will not impede traffic or otherwise jeopardize the safety of other motorists.”
The driver may not have been responsible for the accident, but they may still be charged with a felony or a misdemeanor. The facts and circumstances related to the accident may influence whether a defendant is charged with a felony or a misdemeanor.
Hit-and-Run: Felony Cases
Parties to hit-and-run accident cases that cause death or serious bodily injury must stay at the accident scene and offer help to the injured party. Individuals who do not perform these actions and leave the accident scene may be charged with a felony.
Even if an individual did not cause an accident, they might still face felony or misdemeanor charges if they abandon the scene of the accident. Reasonable assistance constitutes calling for medical personnel to treat the injured victim. Reasonable assistance also means transporting injury victims, including drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.
Hit-and-Run: Misdemeanor Cases
California Vehicle Code 20002 governs how drivers involved in accidents resulting in property damage must interact with other parties. A party must not leave the scene of the accident, and the party must provide their driver’s license and vehicle registration. If a party does not provide this information, they may be charged with a misdemeanor. The person does not have to be responsible for causing the accident to face a misdemeanor charge.
The Consequences Of Hit-and-Run Convictions In San Diego
A range of penalties may apply to hit-and-run convictions in California. The nature of the accident, the type of property damage, and the accident location can all affect the sanctions a defendant will suffer. The following penalties are common for individuals convicted of a hit-and-run misdemeanor offense under California Vehicle Code 20002:
- Probation
- A six-month jail sentence
- A $1,000 fine
- Fees and restitution payments
- Revocation of a driver’s license
The following penalties are common for individuals convicted of a hit-and-run felony offense under California Vehicle Code 20002:
- Driver’s license revocation
- Parole
- Probation
- $10,000 in fines
- A four-year prison sentence
Drivers who are convicted of hit-and-run violations may also be susceptible to civil lawsuits. A hit-and-run driver may be sued for civil damages by surviving family members of a decedent, individuals who suffered property damage, and those who suffered a serious bodily injury during the accident.
(No guarantee of outcome. Results displayed were dependent on unique facts of that case, and different facts will bring different results.)
The Value Of A San Diego Hit-and-Run Accident Case
No two hit-and-run accident cases are alike. The type of personal injuries you suffer and the nature of those injuries will influence the compensation you may seek for your injuries. Your economic damages and non-economic damages will affect the case’s potential value.
Insurance policies may have limits that do not provide you with the financial compensation you seek. You may pursue monetary compensation from other sources. If a city were responsible for keeping the roads in good working order, you might have a legal claim against the municipality.
You may never find the hit-and-run driver who caused your injuries, but you may still have options for pursuing financial compensation for your injuries. Knowledgeable San Diego hit-and-run accident lawyers can help you with the legal aspects of your case.
Why Do Hit-and-Run Accidents Happen In San Diego?
Victims are often left wondering how the hit-and-run accident occurred. Individuals leave accident scenes for many reasons, including the following:
- Elderly driver
- Anxiety and panic
- Illegal drugs
- Illegal firearms
- Outstanding arrest warrants
- Driving without a driver’s license
- Uninsured driver
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
An experienced hit-and-run accident attorney in San Diego can assist you in investigating the accident and work with law enforcement to identify the potentially liable driver.
Contact Our San Diego Hit-and-Run Accident Attorneys For Legal Assistance
Call Arash Law and its experienced team of San Diego personal injury attorneys led by Arash Khorsandi, Esq., at (888) 488-1391. We have handled a wide range of injury cases in California, including those involving hit-and-run accidents. Our San Diego hit-and-run accident attorneys provide comprehensive legal support, including assistance with filing a claim within the statutory deadline and investigating the incident. We can also collect witness statements, negotiate with insurance companies, and, if needed, represent the victim in court.
We serve victims all over California, including the following cities near San Diego: Lakeside, Bostonia, Santee, Rancho San Diego, El Cajon, Spring Valley, La Presa, Imperial Beach, La Mesa, Bonita, Lemon Grove, Chula Vista, National City, and Coronado.
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