Luke Perisin, a 38-year-old off-duty firefighter who was seriously injured in a hit-and-run Orange County car accident is expected to survive and is recovering from his injuries, The Orange County Register reports. Perisin was struck by a car while he was walking in a marked crosswalk in Laguna Beach the morning of December 5, 2009. He was carried about 50 feet from the point of impact. Perisin was crossing South Coast Highway at Brooks Street. The hit-and-run driver has not been caught although one witness to the crash followed the vehicle for about a mile after the accident, but lost sight of the car at Nyes Place.

Pedestrian Sustains Severe Injuries

Perisin sustained several broken bones and head injuries. He has apparently been released from intensive care, but his mother, Barb Perisin, says she doesn't know when he will be well enough to leave the hospital. Undoubtedly, Perisin has a long and arduous road to recovery and may be unable to return to his work for a lengthy period of time. His mother says he will have to undergo extensive physical therapy. He was hit on one side of the body from where the car hit him and on the other side from striking the hard pavement.

My heart goes out to this wonderful family for what they are going through as a result of this horrific hit-and-run pedestrian accident. Perisin had been a firefighter and a paramedic in Orange County for three years and has enjoyed helping people through his work, his mother tells the Register. What a tragedy for his family and his co-workers! I hope and pray that Perisin completely recovers from his injuries and gets back to the work he truly seems to have loved. Please keep this firefighter and his family in your prayers.

Police Looking for Hit-and-Run Driver

Authorities are also asking for the public's help to locate the hit-and-run vehicle and driver. The suspect vehicle is believed to be a white Toyota Prius or Corolla with damage to the front end and the windshield. Not only was this driver going on the wrong side of the road at the time of the accident, but he or she also, did not stop or yield right-of-way to the pedestrian. And the driver did not even pause or stop to look at what happened and instead, just zipped through leaving this injured man on the roadway. This driver must be apprehended and brought to justice. The driver should also heed the pleas of the Perisin family, come forward and take responsibility for his or her actions. It is the right thing to do.

I would urge the Perisin family to consult an Orange County personal injury lawyer, who will better explain their legal rights and options to them and help them seek compensation for the expenses they face right now. Perisin can seek compensation for medical expenses, cost of hospitalization, the physical therapy he needs to undergo, loss of wages as a result of missed work and other related expenses. A knowledgeable injury lawyer will explain how Perisin's car insurance policy applies to a hit-and-run accident or an incident involving an uninsured or underinsured motorist.

We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.