[09-20-2023] Santa Cruz County, CA – Hit-and-Run Collision Prompted Emergency Response in Watsonville

A hit-and-run collision prompted an emergency response in Watsonville on Wednesday morning, September 20, 2023.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the crash happened around 8:20 a.m. in the back area of Radcliff Elementary School.

A gray Nissan driver struck a parked school bus and fled the scene. Two students were inside the bus at the time, but they did not show signs of injury based on the initial reports.

The authorities are searching for the suspect while conducting an investigation into the collision.

Renowned Hit-and-Run Accident Attorneys in Santa Cruz County

If you or a loved one was injured in a hit-and-run collision in Santa Cruz County, you can either submit a claim to the insurance company or file a lawsuit.

Contact one of our lawyers for a free consultation. This will include an assessment of your case, recommendations for necessary steps, and a review of the key factors that could influence your potential settlement offer.

Our renowned Santa Cruz County hit-and-run accident attorneys at Arash Law, under the direction of Arash Khorsandi, Esq., will not stop at anything to fight for your rights and effectively represent you in these court proceedings. Our firm has recovered more than $500 Million for California clients.

If you want to speak with one of our lawyers, please call (888) 488-1391 or fill out the “Do I Have a Case?” form.

Top 5 Things To Do After a Hit-and-Run Crash in Visalia

If you are involved in a crash with a driver who flees the scene, you can take particular steps to protect your ability to recover a settlement. The steps you choose can help authorities to catch the driver, and they can help to establish your claim for damages. Those actions consist of:

• Collect as much info as possible while at the scene of the accident. Depending on your condition, you might have the ability to get the car’s license plate number and the make, model, and color of the vehicle. If you cannot make a note of this information, you need to at least attempt to snap a few photos of the car (maybe using your cell phone).
• Call the police as soon as possible. The quicker you report the accident to authorities, the faster they can act to arrest the driver. Also, when you call the police, you develop a record of the accident. Within a couple of days, you can order a collision report from the police station that took it or through the California DMV. This record will assist you later when you submit a claim.
• Get the names and contact info of any witnesses. You need to keep in mind that individuals who witness an accident may stay to check on your condition, but after the cops and ambulance show up, they may quickly leave. You should make sure to get their names and phone numbers as soon as possible. Witnesses could play a crucial role. For example, a witness might verify that another vehicle collided with your car.
• Get immediate medical attention. For your own well-being, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible and get examined for any injuries. Furthermore, if you see a doctor, it produces a record of your injuries. As you improve, you need to stick to your medical professional’s treatment plan.
• Report the crash to your own insurance company. While you ought to do this as fast as possible, you need to make sure to stick with the facts. You do not have to admit or designate any fault. Plus, you should not give a recorded statement or accept a settlement agreement until you have talked to a California hit-and-run lawyer about your case.

I HAD AN ACCIDENT

Hit-and-Run Accident Statistics

In the United States, leaving the site of an accident without reporting it or helping the victims is considered a crime. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported about 737,100 accidents involving hit-and-run drivers in 2015. This equates to roughly one hit-and-run accident occurring every 43 seconds in the US.

Within California, 2,948 hit-and-run accidents resulted in 3,056 fatalities between 2010 and 2019. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, Santa Clara County recorded 17 hit-and-run crashes in 2020, much lower than the 22 crashes reported in the previous year.