A 24 year old man is obeying traffic laws, and crossing the street with a green light at Newport Boulevard and 30th Street in Newport Beach. He is struck by a car and becomes another yet fatal hit and run pedestrian accident victim. There are too many hit and run accidents in Orange County each year, and there is no explanation for the cause of this accident or why the driver fled the scene.
The emotions and terror surrounding a fatal hit and run pedestrian accident would cause anyone with a conscience deep feelings of guilt and remorse. There might be several contributing factors that would cause a driver to leave the scene of a fatal hit and run pedestrian accident including driving under the influence, issues with citizenship and residency, as well as the lack of insurance. California has one of the highest rates of uninsured drivers in the nation, currently estimated at 4.1 million California drivers without insurance.
The family of the victim often has no idea that they can pursue a wrongful death action against the victims own Uninsured Motorist/Underinsured Motorist or UM/UIM coverage under their automobile insurance. I can tell you, based upon my 40+ years of experience, that insurance companies will often put up a battle when it comes to UM/UIM claims, and wrongful death cases can be even more difficult. My experience in trial over the years, combined with the recognition of the legal industry tells insurance companies that I have the skill and experience to stand up to them and win. This places us in the best possible position to recover on behalf of our clients.
The driver in the above accident has been identified, and the family of the victim in the above case in Newport Beach will have the opportunity to pursue a wrongful death action against that driver. If her insurance is not enough to cover California wrongful death values a UM/UIM claim will be required. If your family has lost a loved one due to an accident caused by another person, we invite you to contact us for a free consultation at (949)305-1400.