A motorcyclist suffered injuries in a car accident in Anaheim, which officials say involved a hit-and-run driver. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the injury collision occurred the morning of October 9, 2012 on the 57 Freeway near the 91 Freeway. California Highway Patrol officials stated that a Mercedes Benz sedan might have been involved in the crash. One of two good Samaritans, who saw the incident and stopped to help the injured motorcyclist, said she saw a gray sedan cross the double yellow lines separating the fast and carpool lanes.
The motorcyclist was struck in the carpool lane and hit the center divider. The sedan did not stop and continued north on the freeway. Another witness corroborated that account as well. Officials are still investigating the incident. The nature and extent of the motorcyclist’s injuries is not known.
My thoughts and prayers are with the victim who has been injured in this hit-and-run car accident. I wish this person the very best for a quick and full recovery.
OC Motorcycle Accidents
There were two fatalities and 121 injuries involving motorcycle accidents in Anaheim, according to the CHP’s 2010 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). During the same year, 19 people died and 750 were injured as a result of motorcycle collisions in Orange County.
Violation of Laws
It appears from this news report that the driver of a sedan drove over double yellow lines into the carpool lane, struck and injured the motorcyclist and then left the scene of the crash. According to California Vehicle Code Section 21655.8 (a): “Except as required under subdivision (b), when exclusive or preferential use lanes for high-occupancy vehicles are established pursuant to Section 21655.5 and double parallel solid lines are in place to the right thereof, no person driving a vehicle may cross over these double lines to enter into or exit from the exclusive or preferential use lanes, and entrance or exit may be made only in areas designated for these purposes or where a single broken line is in place to the right of the exclusive or preferential use lanes.”
Holding Hit-and-Run Drivers Accountable
Also, it is illegal under California Vehicle Code Section 20001 (a) to leave the scene of an injury car accident. I certainly hope officials are soon able to apprehend this hit-and-run driver and bring him or her to justice. Leaving the scene of an injury accident without even stopping to help the injured victim is a cowardly and irresponsible act. If you have any information about this incident, please visit our web site at www.hitandrunreward.com to offer an anonymous tip and become eligible for a $1,000 reward.
Injured hit-and-run victims are often faced with significant losses including medical expenses and lost earnings. Victims in such cases would be well advised to contact an experienced Anaheim personal injury attorney who will help protect their rights. A knowledgeable accident lawyer will also advise victims about how their own auto insurance policy might apply to an incident where the hit-and-run driver is not identified, or, in a case where the at-fault motorist is uninsured or underinsured.
SLS Consulting