California Injury Blog
A man was critically injured in a hit-and-run car accident in Santa Ana while crossing a street in a wheelchair late night on June 28. According to a KTLA news report, officers responded to the intersection of First and Townsend streets to find the victim lying in the roadway with weak vital signs. After performing CPR, paramedics transported the pedestrian to a nearby hospital in extremely critical condition.
Preliminary investigations show that the victim was crossing First Street in a marked crosswalk when a black or dark colored Toyota Camry struck him and continued east on First. The Toyota’s driver did not stop to render aid. Lucio Luna, 48, was arrested after someone called Santa Ana Police Department to report a suspicious looking car in a neighborhood. Detectives went to the scene and determined the vehicle was involved.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the injured victim. We hope his injuries are not life threatening and that he makes a speedy and complete recovery.
Violation of Laws
Under California law, wheelchair riders are considered pedestrians. So, motorists are required to yield the right of way to individuals in wheelchairs at marked and unmarked crosswalks. In this particular case, the driver struck the disabled pedestrian who was crossing the street in a wheelchair and then left the critically injured victim lying in the street, exposed to further danger. According to California Vehicle Code Section 20001 (a), it is illegal for motorists to leave the scene of an injury or fatal crash.
Justice for Injured Victims
In such cases where hit-and-run victims have suffered serious injuries, they are left facing significant expenses such as medical costs, lost earnings and inability to return to work. They are also often dealing with the emotional pain of not knowing who caused their misery and the fact that the at-fault party has not been identified or held accountable. In this case, we are relieved to note that the driver was apprehended.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a hit-and-run crash, you may be able to seek compensation for your losses even if the hit-and-run driver has not been identified or found. You may be able to get compensated through the uninsured motorist clause of your auto insurance policy, particularly if the hit-and-run driver is uninsured or underinsured. An experienced Santa Ana car accident lawyer will be able to advise you in such cases regarding your legal rights and options.
Source: https://ktla.com/2019/06/29/person-in-wheelchair-critically-injured-in-hit-and-run-collision-while-crossing-santa-ana-street/