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Hit-and-run accidents can be catastrophic and deadly because the injured parties are often left inside the vehicle or on the road, bleeding, with no help in sight.  California has the worst fatal hit-and-run record in the nation.  More than 1 in 10 deadly crashes in the state involve a hit-and-run driver, a figure 66% higher than the national average.  If you’ve been seriously injured in one of these crashes, call an Irvine hit-and-run lawyer to find out about the compensation you could be entitled to.

Nationwide, the number of fatal hit-and-runs recently increased seven times year over year, rising 89% from 1,469 (2012) to 2,783 (2021). During that decade, there were 19,522 fatal hit-and-runs in the United States.  Fortunately, some hit-and-runs result in injury or property damage rather than death.  According to one study, non-fatal accidents also saw a significant surge nationwide during that same 10-year period, including:

  • Injury-only hit-and-runs rose 21% from 159,854 (2012) to 194,918 (2021).
  • A total of 1,992,143 injury-only hit-and-runs occurred between 2012 and 2021.
  • Property damage-only hit-and-runs rose 41% from 490,793 (2012) to 702,341 (2021).

Under California law, a driver can be charged with misdemeanor hit and run under Vehicle Code 20002 VA if they leave the scene of a crash without identifying themselves to the other driver(s)  in the collision, and if another person’s property is damaged. The hit-and-run driver can also be charged with a felony if another driver or passenger is injured or killed in the collision. The only exception to the hit-and-run laws is if you leave the scene to get immediate medical care for yourself or another person. But drivers should still provide their name, contact information, and insurance policy data to the other driver before leaving the scene.  It’s also advisable to call 911 and report the accident.  To protect your rights, you should call an Irvine, CA, hit-and-run accident attorney, as well, in the days or weeks after the accident.

Hit-and-run injuries can result from head-on vehicle collisions, parking lot accidents, side-impact crashes, or a whole host of other vehicular wrecks in which the other driver flees the scene of the crash after impact.  Injuries often include head trauma, broken bones, internal bleeding, spinal cord damage, and sometimes burns.

Neale & Fhima Can Help

You can put your trust in our skilled and experienced hit-and-run lawyer in Irvine because we’ll fight tirelessly to get the maximum payout possible in your case.  We are not intimidated by insurance company representatives, and we negotiate with a ferociousness that often surprises them.  When choosing an Irvine hit-and-run attorney, consider the strengths of Neale & Fhima.  These include:

  • Our Lawyers Win Cases. Neale & Fhima has a 99% success rate in the cases we handle. If you want to be successful, choose us.
  • Free Consultations. Call us.  It’s free.  What do you have to lose?
  • We Value Client Relationships. You matter to us.  You’re not a number on a case file.  We treat clients like family.
  • We Know the Law. California law is vast, complicated, and dense.  Rest assured, we know the law backwards and forwards.
  • Years of Experience. Our attorneys possess more than 40 years of combined experience representing clients throughout Southern California.
  • No Surprises. We tell you up front what you can expect from the legal process.  You don’t have to guess.

Compensation For Hit-And-Run Injury Victims

Depending on the facts in your Irvine hit-and-run case, you could be entitled to different types of financial compensation.  These include:

Economic Damages

  • Lost wages
  • Loss of future earnings potential
  • Medical and hospital bills
  • Cost of future medical care and rehabilitation
  • Property damage

Non-Economic Damages

  • PTSD and emotional distress
  • Pain and suffering
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Loss of enjoyment of life

In some cases, where a defendant’s disregard for the safety of other motorists is particularly egregious, a court can also award punitive damages designed to punish the defendant. A hit-and-run accident lawyer in Irvine can advise you about whether punitive damages apply in your case.

Mistakes to Avoid After a Hit-and-Run Accident

There are several right things to do after a hit-and-run accident, like calling 911, getting medical care right away, taking pictures of the accident scene and your injuries, and getting the names of witnesses, if possible.  But there are also mistakes to avoid immediately after a crash, which can be hard to remember if an injured motorist is dazed or frightened.  Keep these things in mind:

  • Don’t admit fault no matter what.  If police respond to the scene, answer their questions succinctly and respectfully, but don’t speculate about who’s responsible for the crash and why.
  • Unless it’s a life and death situation where you have to drive to the hospital immediately, don’t leave the scene of the accident before police arrive.  Stay where you are, but make sure you are out of the path of oncoming traffic.
  • Don’t refuse emergency medical care or refuse to ride to the hospital in an ambulance.  Your health and safety should be your No. 1 priority.  Allow emergency medical professionals to treat you at the scene or take you to the emergency room.  This will not only ensure that your injuries aren’t life threatening, but it will also create documentation that you can later use when filing a personal injury claim.

Call Neale & Fhima Today

If you or a loved one has been injured in a hit-and-run accident in Irvine, you need legal representation to protect your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.  The skilled and experienced car accident attorneys at Neale & Fhima have a winning track record, and we’ll put that legal know-how to work for you.  We’re tough and fearless, and we never back down when negotiating with insurance companies.  We give 110% effort when fighting for the maximum payout possible in every case.  To find out more about your legal options, call an Irvine, CA, hit-and-run accident lawyer for a free consultation at 888-407-2955.  You’ll be glad you did.

Attorney Aaron Fhima

Aaron Fhima, California attorneyAaron Fhima is a trial attorney who has secured numerous settlements and verdicts against large corporations and some of the largest auto manufacturers in the world. Representing consumers and injury victims throughout the state of California, Aaron’s practice areas include personal injury, and lemon law litigation. Aaron has a long record of success taking on large defense firms; and he doesn’t hesitate to take cases to trial when necessary to enforce his clients’ rights. [ Attorney Bio ]

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