California Injury Blog
A man was seriously injured in a Santa Ana pedestrian accident after he was struck by two vehicles the night of August 25, 2017. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the incident occurred at the intersection of First Street and Harbor Boulevard in Santa Ana. A vehicle struck the man as he was crossing the street and then fled the scene.
A few minutes later, as the man still lay on the street, another vehicle ran over the man. But the driver of the second vehicle stopped and remained at the scene. It is not clear if the pedestrian was using a crosswalk at the time. He was transported to a local hospital. The nature and extent of his injuries is unknown. A description of the vehicle that fled is not available. The investigation is still ongoing.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured victim of this pedestrian accident. We wish him the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics
There were 12 fatalities and 134 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in the city of Santa Ana, according to California Highway Patrol’s 2013 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In Orange County as a whole, 52 people died and 784 were injured due to pedestrian accidents during the same year.
Laws and Liability Issues
Based on this news report, it appears that the driver not only struck the pedestrian who was crossing the street at a major intersection, but also left the scene of the accident without stopping to help the injured victim. California Vehicle Code 20001 (a) states: “The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person, other than himself or herself, or in the death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident.”
In such cases, injured victims can seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, rehabilitation and pain and suffering. An experienced Santa Ana car accident lawyer will be able to advise victims about how their own auto insurance policy might apply to a hit-and-run accident where the driver has not been identified, or in a case where the at-fault party is uninsured or underinsured. The best car accident law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to injured victims and their families.