A 45-year-old man suffered critical injuries in an Anaheim car accident after he was struck by a vehicle whose driver left the scene. According to a City News Service report, the major injury collision occurred early morning on July 27, 2011 in the 2100 block of South Harbor Boulevard near Orangewood Avenue. Officials say the pedestrian was walking across the southbound lanes when he was hit by a Toyota pickup truck. The driver did not stop and kept going. Police are asking witnesses to contact them and help with the investigation. Officials say the Toyota pickup likely has front-end damage. Anyone with information is asked to call Anaheim police at 714-765-1860.
My heart goes out to the injured victim of this hit-and-run car accident. I pray for his speedy and complete recovery.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were eight fatalities and 101 injuries reported due to pedestrian accidents in Anaheim. In Orange County as a whole, 41 people died and 864 were injured in pedestrian accidents, during the same year.
Leaving the Scene of a Crash
Based on this news report, the driver of the pickup hit, seriously injured the pedestrian, and then drove away without stopping. California law requires drivers involved in an injury crash to stop, remain at the scene, exchange pertinent information with the other parties involved, and most importantly, obtain medical assistance for the injured victims. This driver chose to do none of the above!
California Vehicle Code Section 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.”
Holding Hit-and-Run Drivers Accountable
I trust officials will soon track down this hit-and-run driver and prosecute him or her to the fullest extent of the law. If you have any information at all, please visit our dedicated hit-and-run web site at www.hitandrunreward.com to offer an anonymous tip and become eligible to receive a $1,000 reward. This site is our effort to partner with the community and help hold hit-and-run drivers accountable.
Injured victims of hit-and-run drivers would be well-advised to contact an experienced Anaheim personal injury lawyer, who will better explain their legal rights and options. A skilled car accident lawyer will also be able to inform victims about how their own car insurance policy applies to an incident where the hit-and-run driver is never identified, or in a case where the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.