Early Sunday a hit-and-run driver caused a head-on crash in Newport Beach that injured six people, three of them critically. According to ABC News, the collision happened on Pacific Coast Highway and Newport Boulevard around midnight when a vehicle traveling northbound on PCH reportedly crossed over the center line and crashed head-on into a car coming the opposite direction. Police believe one of the drivers may have been driving while under the influence, according to the ABC story. Three of the people injured in the southbound vehicle were taken to a local hospital in critical condition. The police are still trying o locate the driver who caused the crash.
What to Do When You're Involved in a Hit-and-Run Crash
Collisions like the one above happen all too frequently, and they often remain unsolved for a number of weeks if not months. If you are involved in such an accident, there are certain things you can do to protect yourself and best ensure you ultimately receive compensation for the injuries and damages caused by a hit-and-run driver. First, the accident should be reported immediately to the police, and you should avoid getting involved in any sort of chase with the driver. Second, every bit of evidence at the scene should be documented in photographs to the extent possible. This should include photos of the point of rest of your vehicle, damage to your car and any evidence left at the scene (such as debris) by the hit-and-run driver. It is extremely important to avoid disturbing any of the evidence as the police will also want to photograph or at least document the location of debris. One issue that almost invariably comes up is that of paint transfers. If you have the ability to inspect your vehicle at the scene, you should look for any paint on the bumper or fenders that may have been transferred from the hit-and-run driver's car. That evidence should be carefully photographed, without disturbing its condition. Finally, cooperating to the extent possible with law enforcement may very well help identify the adverse driver and ensure their arrest and identification for insurance purposes.
Beyond the steps above, it is important to report the accident promptly to your own insurance carrier. This is important for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that there are certain insurance policy/legal limitations on the amount of time within which you have to report a hit-and-run accident. Also, if there driver is never identified or they do not have auto accident insurance, your claim for injuries and damages may have to presented to your own insurance carrier as an "uninsured motorist" claim. Drivers who are not identified are considered uninsured pursuant to most automobile insurance policies.
If you or a loved one is involved in a hit-and-run accident, you should contact an experienced injury attorney to assist you with getting through the maze of paperwork and claims requirements in order to secure your right to compensation for any injuries or damages sustained.
SOURCE: Pacific Coast Highway hit-and-run crash leaves 6 injured, KABC News, November 17, 2013, by KABC News, Orange County News
What to Do When You're Involved in a Hit-and-Run Crash
Collisions like the one above happen all too frequently, and they often remain unsolved for a number of weeks if not months. If you are involved in such an accident, there are certain things you can do to protect yourself and best ensure you ultimately receive compensation for the injuries and damages caused by a hit-and-run driver. First, the accident should be reported immediately to the police, and you should avoid getting involved in any sort of chase with the driver. Second, every bit of evidence at the scene should be documented in photographs to the extent possible. This should include photos of the point of rest of your vehicle, damage to your car and any evidence left at the scene (such as debris) by the hit-and-run driver. It is extremely important to avoid disturbing any of the evidence as the police will also want to photograph or at least document the location of debris. One issue that almost invariably comes up is that of paint transfers. If you have the ability to inspect your vehicle at the scene, you should look for any paint on the bumper or fenders that may have been transferred from the hit-and-run driver's car. That evidence should be carefully photographed, without disturbing its condition. Finally, cooperating to the extent possible with law enforcement may very well help identify the adverse driver and ensure their arrest and identification for insurance purposes.
Beyond the steps above, it is important to report the accident promptly to your own insurance carrier. This is important for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that there are certain insurance policy/legal limitations on the amount of time within which you have to report a hit-and-run accident. Also, if there driver is never identified or they do not have auto accident insurance, your claim for injuries and damages may have to presented to your own insurance carrier as an "uninsured motorist" claim. Drivers who are not identified are considered uninsured pursuant to most automobile insurance policies.
If you or a loved one is involved in a hit-and-run accident, you should contact an experienced injury attorney to assist you with getting through the maze of paperwork and claims requirements in order to secure your right to compensation for any injuries or damages sustained.
SOURCE: Pacific Coast Highway hit-and-run crash leaves 6 injured, KABC News, November 17, 2013, by KABC News, Orange County News
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