What Happens When a Driver Leaves the Scene of a Fatal California Crash?
When a driver leaves the scene after causing a serious crash, the people left behind may face more than the physical and emotional consequences of the accident. They may also have questions about how the driver can be identified, who may be responsible, and what legal options are available to the injured person or their family.
A recent fatal crash in Sacramento County illustrates the devastating consequences of a hit-and-run. According to the California Highway Patrol, a woman was riding her bicycle in the right bike lane on Franklin Boulevard when a trailer attached to her bicycle became detached. She stopped to repair the trailer after its axle broke. While she was attempting to make the repair, a black pickup truck struck her and fled the scene. She was taken to a hospital, where she later died from her injuries. CHP was continuing to investigate and search for the vehicle involved.
A hit-and-run can make an already difficult situation even more complicated. Understanding what may happen after a driver leaves the scene can help injured people and their families understand their options.
What Is a Hit-and-Run Accident?
A hit-and-run occurs when a driver involved in a collision leaves without stopping and fulfilling the responsibilities required after a crash. When someone is injured or killed, leaving the scene can have serious legal consequences for the driver. However, the criminal investigation and a civil injury or wrongful death claim are separate matters. The driver may face criminal charges if identified and arrested. At the same time, the injured person or the victim’s family may have a separate claim for compensation related to the harm caused by the crash.
What Happens When the Driver Cannot Be Identified?
One of the biggest challenges after a hit-and-run is identifying the vehicle and driver. Law enforcement may rely on witnesses, surveillance footage, vehicle debris, damage patterns, and other evidence to determine what happened. In some cases, witnesses may remember details about the vehicle even when they cannot identify the driver.
The Sacramento County crash is an example of why these investigations can take time. CHP said it was actively searching for the black pickup truck involved in the collision and asked anyone with information to come forward. Evidence from the scene can become especially important when the driver has not been located.
Can You Recover Compensation After a Hit-and-Run?
A hit-and-run does not necessarily mean an injured person has no way to seek compensation. California drivers are generally required to carry automobile insurance, and an injured person may have potential options through uninsured motorist or underinsured motorist coverage depending on the circumstances and the applicable insurance policy.
Insurance coverage can become particularly important when the driver responsible for a crash cannot be identified. An attorney may need to review the injured person’s insurance policy and the circumstances of the accident to determine whether coverage may apply. If the driver is eventually identified, the injured person or the victim’s family may also have legal options against the responsible party, depending on the facts of the case.
What If the Victim Dies From the Crash?
When a person dies because of injuries suffered in a hit-and-run accident, the legal issues can extend beyond a typical injury claim. A wrongful death claim may allow certain surviving family members or representatives to seek compensation for losses resulting from the person’s death. Depending on the circumstances, damages may include certain financial losses and other damages recognized under California law.
The specific people who may bring a wrongful death claim and the damages available depend on the circumstances and applicable California law. A fatal hit-and-run can also leave a family dealing with medical expenses from treatment provided before the victim died. Those losses may need to be considered as part of the legal process.
Why Evidence Matters After a Hit-and-Run
Evidence can play an important role in both identifying the driver and establishing what caused the crash.
After a hit-and-run, investigators may look for evidence such as:
- Witness statements
- Security or traffic camera footage
- Vehicle parts or debris left at the scene
- Damage to the vehicle that struck the victim
- Photographs from the accident scene
- Police or CHP reports
- Medical records
- Insurance information
- Cellphone or other available electronic records
Witnesses can be particularly valuable. In the Franklin Boulevard crash, the victim’s boyfriend reportedly witnessed what happened.
Family members and witnesses should preserve any information they have about the accident and provide it to investigators when appropriate.
What Should You Do After a Hit-and-Run?
If you are injured in a hit-and-run, your first priority should be getting medical attention. If you are able to do so safely, try to document as much information about the crash as possible. Look for witnesses and preserve photographs or video from the scene. If a nearby business or property has surveillance cameras, let investigators know about the potential footage. Security recordings may not be stored indefinitely, so identifying possible sources quickly can be important.
You should also notify your insurance company about the accident and review your policy for uninsured motorist coverage. If the victim has died, family members should preserve medical records, accident reports, insurance documents, and other information related to the crash. An attorney can help determine what evidence may be important to a potential claim.
A Hit-and-Run Can Leave Families With Lasting Consequences
A driver who leaves the scene can make it harder for a victim or family to determine what happened and how to recover compensation. The recent Franklin Boulevard crash shows how quickly a roadside incident can become a fatal collision. CHP’s investigation remained ongoing at the time of the report.
When the responsible driver is unknown, the investigation may take time. Identifying the vehicle, reviewing available evidence, and determining what insurance coverage may apply can all become important parts of the process. Families should not assume that they have no legal options simply because the driver initially fled the scene.
Ashton & Price Attorneys at Law: Your Hit-and-Run Advocates
A fatal hit-and-run can leave a family facing medical expenses, financial losses, and the sudden loss of a loved one. If you or a family member has been seriously injured in a hit-and-run crash, Ashton & Price can help you understand your legal rights and pursue the compensation you may be entitled to recover. As Sacramento’s most trusted personal injury attorneys, they proudly represent injury victims throughout Sacramento and the Bay Area. (916) 786-7787 or (415) 843-2000 or contact us online today for a free consultation.