Personal Injury Law

Is the Spree of Hit and Runs a Product of a Bad Economy?

By John Demas

Insurance is one of those monthly bills that people believe they can cut back on or do without during hard economic times. There are times when I really wish I didn’t have to shell out hundreds of dollars for something I hope I never use, but it is the law. Minimum policies are usually $15K/$30K in California. This type doesn’t cost much, but when it is necessary to pinch every penny to stay in your home, keep business open, or fill the gas tank, it becomes a burden.

I know better than to get rid of my car insurance, but I work in the industry and I know what can happen if you don’t carry it, but many people don’t understand that one crash without insurance could ruin them. If you hurt someone and you don’t have insurance you are liable for all their damages and will have to pay out-of-pocket. Even if you do have insurance, a collision will probably make your insurance go up and that is the last thing anybody needs. That may be the reason behind all the recent hit-and-runs lately.

I was appalled to see not two, not three... but six stories of hit-and-runs in the area. Shockingly, a couple of them involved very young children. In the beginning of October, we saw that an 8-year-old boy was critically injured in Stockton. The driver fled the scene but was eventually caught and is in custody.

A few days later, in Modesto, a driver fled the scene after running a red-light and broadsiding a family’s minivan leaving the 3-year-old girl in critical condition. The child took the brunt of the impact. As of November 7, 2008, the suspect, Gabriel Garcia Martinez, is still at large. Thankfully, the little girl is expected to survive her head injuries.

But it doesn’t end there, the very next day, there were reports about Anhelia Crisol, age 21, who was struck by a vehicle while changing her car’s tire on the shoulder of eastbound I-80. The California Highway Patrol immediately began looking for the 90's Buick LaSabre. There would be damage on the right front and side of the vehicle. If you have any information please contact Gabe Potter at the CHP (916) 338-6710.

Then there is the story of the hit-and-run fatality that occurred the day before Ms. Crisol was struck. Aman Kumar Khanna was broadsided in Sacramento. There wasn’t much information at first, but the picture slowly came into view. It turns out that a 16-year-old boy was drunk and had run a red light at 80 mph. He fled on foot, but was caught and will face five charges, including gross vehicular manslaughter while under the influence of alcohol causing great bodily injury or death and felony hit-and-run.

Apparently the spree continues when a seventeen-year-old and a nineteen-year-old were hit while crossing the street. The driver left and the two girls were left to fend for themselves. The seventeen-year-old is on life support and her friend was seriously injured. The police began a search immediately and eventually the driver turned herself in. She was arrested.

There are reports that a bicyclist in the area may have also been hit by a car whose driver did not stop.

The punishment for hit-and-run just isn’t worth taking the chance. To quote my legal assistant’s blog:

“California Vehicle Code section 20001, et seq. states quite clearly that if you are involved in a collision, YOU MUST STOP. There is certain information that must be given to the other involved parties if requested, including a driver’s license, vehicle registration, current residence address of the driver and of the registered owner, and other valid identification.

Penalties for leaving the scene are quite severe and can range from a maximum of six months in prison to a minimum addition of five years to a vehicular manslaughter sentence. Fines range from $1,000.00 to $10,000.00.”

Everybody gets scared when they have been in an accident and panicking can be understood, but whatever you do, don’t leave the scene. It will only make the situation worse. Think about the people that you learned about today; you now know who they are, what they look like, and what they drive. These people will be caught if they haven’t been already.

Technology today makes it very hard to get away with a hit-and-run and in the end, you’re not saving any money. It’s hard right now and tough times are ahead of us as well, but insurance is a necessary evil.

If you have any additional information about these or other collisions, please contact the appropriate authorities. And if you or someone you love has been in a collision (hit-and-run or otherwise) please give us a call.

Full post as published by Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer on November 13, 2008 (boomark / email).