Hit-and-Run Accident

Car accidents can leave a victim with devastating injuries and many forms of losses that ensue. Thankfully, most auto accidents feature the at-fault party or parties staying at the scene and helping to resolve the crash, aiding the victim if he or she is in need, and settling the matter through insurance claims. Unfortunately, there are also many drivers who choose to flee the scene of an accident out of fear and a lack of care for their victims. When this occurs, finding compensation for one’s injuries can be incredibly difficult.

When the hit-and-run driver leaves the scene and is never found, victims must find another way to be compensated for their injuries in order to recover and not suffer from large medical bills caused by another’s actions. Thankfully, there are still avenues for victims of Northern California hit-and-run accidents to find compensation and aid. If the victim of such an accident has insurance coverage for uninsured motorist accidents, this can be used for compensation for the injuries and losses one has sustained. As with all accidents, higher insurance coverage results in higher possible compensation payments.

However, a victim must prove that the accident was the result of a hit-and-run driver. Evidence that should be presented includes police reports, witness testimonies, any video footage of the accident that may have been recorded by nearby cameras, and photos of the scene. Additionally, victims must prove that the injuries and losses they are claiming are true, which can be proven by medical records, appraisals of the vehicle’s damage, and any other professional documentation of the toll of the crash.

Gathering such evidence can be done by a victim, but is often quite difficult without some form of legal aid. The San Jose hit-and-run injury attorneys at Van Der Walde & Associates can aid you and any loved ones who have been injured in a crash find full and necessary compensation for the losses suffered. For more information, contact our dedicated legal team at (408) 474-0005.

A 37-year-old man died after being struck by a hit-and-run-driver the night of March 26, according to SantaCruz.Patch.com. The man had just left a quinceañera celebration at the Veterans of Foreign Wars center, around 11:00 p.m., when he was hit while walking along Seventh Avenue, near Rodriguez Street, just outside Santa Cruz city limits. After the collision, the man was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The investigation into the identity of the hit-and-run-driver is ongoing, however it is believed that it was a female, driving a car described as a dark colored or black Chrysler 300 sedan with chrome rims. The model year of a car is more difficult to determine, especially in a night-time accident, although the alleged car was possibly a 1996 model.

Hit and run car accident cases are very difficult to resolve due to the fact that the at-fault-driver immediately leaves the scene of the accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), hit and run accidents account for an average of 18 percent of all collisions in California. Some investigations are conclusive and some are not, but in any hit and run case, the driver of the hit and run vehicle can be held liable for any medical expenses due to treatment and rehabilitation, as well as any pain and suffering caused by the injury. The driver can also be held accountable for emotional pain and suffering on the part of a victim’s family, in the case of a fatal pedestrian accident in Santa Cruz. In either situation, it is best to be well-informed of your legal rights.

The knowledgeable Santa Cruz hit and run accident attorneys of Van Der Walde & Associates have the skills and resources to advise you through this difficult time. They will work with you to hold those at-fault responsible and recover any financial and emotional losses and damages suffered as a result of your accident. Learn more about your legal options today at 877-862-6288.