An Orange County car accident that occurred the afternoon of November 9, 2009 was caused by a driver who ran another vehicle off the roadway. According to The Orange County Register, the incident involved a white Chevrolet pickup truck traveling on the frontage road along the northbound 55 Freeway near Paularino Avenue, which hit a light pole and crashed into an industrial building. Costa Mesa police said the truck was cut off by another vehicle causing it to jump a curb, lose a wheel, and hit a light pole before smashing into the building.

I'm relieved that this accident did not result in serious injuries or worse, fatalities. It's not clear how many people were in the pickup truck and whether or not anyone was hurt.

Car Accidents in Orange County

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 11 fatalities and 855 injuries involving car accidents in Costa Mesa. In Orange County as a whole, car accidents claimed 178 lives and injured 14,185 people in 2007.

There is also no word on whether the vehicle that caused this accident -- the driver who ran the pickup truck off the road -- stopped at the scene of the accident. Based on this news report and the photo accompanying it, it seems to me that the other driver did not stop. When a vehicle runs you off the road, basically causing an accident, and then leaves the scene, that is known as a non-contact hit-and-run. What this means is that the two vehicles don't actually collide, but the accident is caused by one of the drivers.

Non-Contact Hit-and-Run Accidents

In some non-contact hit-and-run accidents, it is possible that the person who cuts off the other vehicle does not even realize what has happened and continues to drive away. However, in this particular case, I find it hard to believe that the other driver did not see this pickup truck go into the building.

Anyone, who is seriously injured in these types of cases should consult an experienced personal injury attorney in Orange County, who will advise them about their legal rights and options. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer will also be able to tell victims how their own car insurance policy would apply in a hit-and-run case or in an incident involving an uninsured or underinsured driver.

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.