A male pedestrian sustained critical injuries in an Oakland car accident after he was hit by a vehicle at a Highway 980 off-ramp the night of August 29, 2010. According to a Bay City News report, the man is believed to be the victim of a hit-and-run crash. California Highway Patrol officials say they found the man lying on the street with severe head injuries and several broken bones. Doctors expect him to survive. The initial call that came in from a passer-by reported the man to be dead. So far, there have been no vehicle or suspect descriptions, but officials believe that the man's injuries are consistent with a hit-and-run collision.

My heart goes out to this critically injured victim. I'm relieved to hear that his injuries, although severe, are not life-threatening. I wish him the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. I also, sincerely hope that someone will come forward with information about the hit-and-run driver, which will facilitate their arrest and prosecution. For more information about how to leave an anonymous tip and qualify for a $1,000 reward, please visit our web site, www.hitandrunreward.com.

Pedestrian Accidents

There were 14 fatalities and 275 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Oakland in 2008, according to CHP's traffic accident statistics. In Alameda County as a whole, 33 people died and 649 were injured as a result of pedestrian accidents during the same year.

Laws and Compensation Issues

California Vehicle Code Section 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."

Leaving the scene of an accident is a serious crime under California law. Motorists are required to stop, remain at the scene and obtain medical aid for the injured victim. This requirement is made regardless of who was at fault for the accident. In this particular case, the driver chose to the leave the scene, with a severely injured victim lying at the bottom of a highway off-ramp, exposed to more danger.

Injured car accident victims could receive compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, surgeries, rehabilitation and other related damages. An experienced Oakland personal injury lawyer will be able to advise victims about their legal rights and options in such cases. A skilled car accident lawyer will also be able to determine how the victim's car insurance policy applies to a hit-and-run crash where the driver is never found, or in an incident where the at-fault motorist is uninsured or underinsured.

Would you report a hit-and-run driver if you saw the incident? Are you more likely to offer a tip if your identity can be kept anonymous?

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.