Modesto Residents Risk Personal Injury on the Road

Modesto, California is the government seat for Stanislaus County, a sunny, inland region. The city, however, has a very high rate of auto theft, second only to Las Vegas as of 2007, and it seems this statistic is a warning of the fatal car accident dangers on Modesto's streets.

The beginning of the 2010 new year has already seen personal injury in car accidents. Oddly, two recent accidents have both involved Modesto police cars. On driver, was arrested on suspicion of drinking and driving and hit-and-run. The driver ran a red light and hit the front fender of a cop car, spinning the cop car around. Another police officer from a different nearby cop car came over to make sure the other officer was OK. In the meantime, the driver had abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot.

After a short foot pursuit, the driver who caused the wreck was arrested. He was believed to be drunk and committed a hit-and-run. The officer from the impacted vehicle sustained minor personal injuries and was taken to Modesto hospital.

The other accident involving a patrol car happened nearly a week prior, when a sport utility vehicle and cop car collided on Scenic Drive. A witness said the officer was driving too fast, lost control, and slid sideways into the SUV's lane.

Police Chases Cause Accidents

Around 300 people die in police chase car accidents each year, according to a study by Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center of Seattle. One instance of these dangerous car chases took place in Modesto in 2007 and has led to controversies over who was really at fault.

A 27-year-old man in a stolen vehicle was pursued by two patrol cars in heavy traffic after suspicious activity was reported. The driver reached up to 70 mph and was trying to pass a car when he hit another head-on. Two were killed in the impacted car and the passenger of the stolen vehicle died as well.

A Modesto fatal car accident attorney could help dissolve some of the confusion around this event. Families of the victims who died believe that the Sheriff's Department is at fault for "improperly chasing [the driver] through North Modesto". They believe the pursuit is what caused the deaths of their loved ones, and have filed two wrongful death lawsuits in Stanislaus County seeking damages against the county in 2009.

County Sheriff responded by saying, "The deputy sheriff didn't make the choice to engage in the chase; the suspects made the choice by fleeing."

DUI Takes its Toll in Modesto

A 27-year-old man has been involved in two bicycle accidents, the more recent one resulting in a death. The driver is accused of striking and killing a bicyclist while under the influence of a painkiller and marijuana. At the scene of the accident, the man was exhibiting behavior as though under the influence of something, though there have been no studies to show that the painkiller he had taken, oxycodone, has any effect on driving.

This fatal car accident is made all the worse because it was this driver's second offense and he had been called, by the Department of Motor Vehicles, "among California's worst drivers". The first accident he was implicated in resulted in the the injury of a boy riding his bicycle across the street in Modesto. He was found under the influence of intoxicants during this accident, as well.

When it Comes to Car Accidents, a Modesto Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You

If you have been injured by a drunk driver, been involved in a hit-and-run, or have sustained personal injury in any other way where another person might be at fault, Modesto personal injury law firms can help surface the details of your case.

If you are the victim of a personal injury, you owe it to yourself to get a FREE copy of the book, "The Seven Fatal Mistakes That Can Wreck Your California Personal Injury Claim" ($14.99 value). If you need help immediately, call one of our expert personal injury lawyers now at 1-800-561-4887 and we will schedule a consultation the same day or by the next business day at the latest.

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For the best in client care and legal representation, please call our Modesto car accident lawyers. Also see California car accident lawyer and California personal injury lawyer for more information.

Be on the Hit-and-Run Lookout

BISNAR | CHASE, in conjunction with WeTip, a leading anonymous crime reporting service and law enforcement advocacy non-profit organization, is launching a program intended to wipe out hit-and-runs in the state of California by offering rewards for tips leading to the arrest and felony conviction of hit-and-run drivers. See Hit-and-Run Reward for more details.

BISNAR | CHASE 2006-2010 Super Lawyers names outstanding lawyers from more than 60 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. BISNAR | CHASE has received this award for five consecutive years. Brian Chase was named one of the 2010 Top 50 Orange County Lawyers.