A woman was injured in a car accident after her vehicle was struck by a van, which officials say, ran a stop sign. According to a news report in the Record-Bee, the accident occurred at the intersection of Country Club Drive and 10th Street in Clearlake the afternoon of June 24, 2010. Clearlake police officials said 46-year-old Richard Alan was driving a Chevy Astro van, when he ran a stop sign and struck a Mitsubishi Eclipse that was going west on Country Club. The female driver of the Eclipse was injured, but she is expected to survive. Olivieri, who left the scene of the accident by foot, was arrested shortly afterward on suspicion of hit-and-run.

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I'm relieved to note that the driver of the Mitsubishi was not seriously injured in this crash. I wish her the very best for a speedy and complete recovery from her injuries.

Car Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were two fatalities and 27 injuries involving car accidents in Clearlake. In Lake County as a whole, 14 people died and 292 were injured as a result of car accidents in 2008.

Law Violations

Based on this news report, it appears that Olivieri not only ran a stop sign at the intersection and crashed into the Mitsubishi, but also left the scene of the accident. Hit-and-run is a serious crime under California law. California Vehicle Code 20001 (a) states: "The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person, other than himself or herself, or in the death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident." Running a stop sign is also a serious traffic violation under California Vehicle Code section 21802 (a).

Liability Issues

If Olivieri is determined to have been at fault here, then, he could be held criminally and civilly liable for the accident and resulting injuries. In such cases, injured victims can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related damages.

An experienced California personal injury lawyer will be able to advise injured victims about their legal rights and options in such cases. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer will also be able to inform victims about how their own auto insurance policy might apply to a hit-and-run crash or to an incident where the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.

What are some tactics you use to stay clear of dangerous drivers on the roadway?

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.