Westminster, CA – Injuries Reported in Hit-and-Run Crash at Brookhurst St & SR-22
Westminster, CA (January 18, 2022) – On Tuesday morning, January 17, a hit-and-run crash was reported in Westminster that resulted in injuries.
According to reports, the accident occurred around 12:30 a.m. at Brookhurst Street near State Route 22. A vehicle merged into the road when it was crashed into by a second vehicle that was traveling on the road at the same time. The driver that smashed into the other car did not stop at the accident scene and immediately fled without stopping to check on the other driver or exchange insurance information. There is no indication as to whether the police have apprehended the suspect or are still searching for them.
Emergency personnel was immediately called. Police and paramedics arrived shortly. The vehicle that was hit sustained significant damage as a result of the collision. Paramedics arrived on the scene within minutes and tended to the injured occupants of the vehicle. Officials report that significant injuries were sustained in the accident, however, there is no information at this time as to the extent of the injuries or the number of people injured in the accident.
Police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash. The area was closed for a time to allow police to investigate and the accident to be cleared.
Our thoughts are with the victims injured in this accident. We hope for their full recovery.
Hit-and-Run Accidents in California
When you are involved in an accident, all parties involved must stop and remain at the accident scene to exchange their license and insurance information and wait for the police to arrive to document the accident. However, in California, there are an increasing number of news stories of drivers who are breaking the law and fleeing from an accident scene. California has the highest rate of hit-and-run accidents in the country, reporting about 17% of the total hit-and-run accidents. Oftentimes, drivers will flee an accident when they have engaged in other illegal activities, such as drinking and driving, have a suspended license, or do not have insurance and are hoping they will escape punishment. However, in modern times, where everyone has cell phones, and there are traffic cameras, most fleeing suspects are apprehended. Failing to stop at the scene of an accident has strict punishments and will either be charged as a misdemeanor or felony offense, depending on the circumstances.
If you’ve been injured in a hit-and-run accident, you may worry more about who will pay for your medical care, expenses, and lost wages if you can’t work for some time. The police have a very high success rate of finding people who flee from an accident. In the event the person that hit you is not located, victims of hit-and-run accidents may still be entitled to compensation for their damages suffered as a result of the accident. This is typically covered under California’s uninsured motorist coverage (UM) that each driver has under their insurance policy.
If you or a family member were hurt in a hit-and-run accident, you should speak to an experienced car accident lawyer right away, who will walk you through the process of filing a claim and will help you understand your rights and how much you may be entitled to as compensation. Contact a Westminster car accident attorney by calling (888) 539-3154 to see how we can help you.
Note: This post was created through the use of secondary sources such as state and local news sources, police accident reports, social media platforms, and eyewitness accounts about serious injury accidents that take place in Orange County. The facts surrounding this accident have not been independently verified, therefore, if any information is incorrect, please contact Russell & Lazarus APC, Personal Injury Lawyer so we can update the post with the most accurate information available. We will remove this post upon request.
Disclaimer: This is not a solicitation for business. None of the information in this post is intended to be medical or legal advice. The photo used in this post was not taken at the actual accident scene.