Articles Tagged with hit-and-run accidents

In the aftermath of a car accident, an injured victim might feel shocked and overwhelmed. No one expects to be hit or to crash into another car when they go out to drive from one place to the next. But car accidents happen all the time across the United States and in the state of California. In the aftermath of a car accident, victims can suffer disabling injuries and death. In 2019, there were 3,606 fatal car crashes in the state of California alone. It is imperative that if you are in an accident in which property damage or physical bodily harm results, you must stay at the scene and try to render aid. If you leave the car accident scene without taking the right steps you could be facing criminal charges. 

Individuals involved in a car accident in California that flee the scene could face either a misdemeanor or felony criminal charges. If you are arrested for either a misdemeanor or a felony hit-and-run charge, you need proficient legal counsel to help you overcome your charges and secure the best possible outcome for your case. The San Diego hit-and-run defense attorney David M. Boertje can assist you in this situation. 

What Rendering Reasonable Assistance Means After a Vehicular Accident

If you are involved in a car accident it does not matter if it is your fault or another party’s fault for the incident happening. When the crash produces property damages or injuries and death,  you have to stay at the scene and render reasonable assistance. This does not necessarily mean that you have to physically administer treatment, although if you are trained to do so you may be able to use your knowledge and skills to help another person suffering physical bodily harm.

Regardless of if you are medically trained or not, rendering reasonable assistance is a must. This may mean that you simply call 9-1-1 to get first responders to the scene to evaluate injured parties and provide them medical aid. It is perfectly acceptable to respond to injured victims of a car accident by calling the emergency line for assistance. However, it is not perfectly acceptable to fail to provide reasonable assistance to people who are suffering harm.

If you are arrested or being investigated for a hit-and-run charge in California, there are a couple of things to know. First, you do not have to talk about your case with the police. Kindly and respectfully asserting your right to silence is the best action to take here. Then, getting in touch with the San Diego criminal defense attorney David M. Boertje can help you defend your rights and potentially keep you out of jail. Continue reading

On Thursday, February 27, the San Diego Sheriff’s Department reported that an arrest was made in the hit-and-run case that occurred on Tuesday of that week. A driver hit a 12-year-old boy on a Vista-area street and then fled the scene. The driver was found and arrested in Oceanside at approximately 5:25 p.m. on Wednesday, the day after the pedestrian accident.

The suspect was found at the 3500 block of Windrift Way in Oceanside by deputies who were responding to a tip provided to them through the San Diego County Crime Stoppers hotline. When deputies arrived on the scene they found a 2016 white Toyota sedan that had visible front-end damage. Witnesses to the hit-and-run described similar damages to what deputies saw on the Toyota. After contacting the owner of the vehicle, deputies eventually arrested the person.

The driver was taken to the Vista Detention Facility and booked on suspicion of felony hit-and-run. The identity of the suspect has not been released by authorities.

The alleged hit-and-run accident inflicted serious injuries on the boy. The accident happened at the 1000 block of Mar Vista Drive on the border of Vista around 4:45 p.m. on February 25. After the deputies were called to the scene, an air ambulance took the boy to Rady Children’s Hospital for treatment. The boy suffered leg injuries and abrasions on his face as a result of the crash.

Authorities indicated that the boy was responsive and conscious when they arrived at the scene. Further information on the status of the boy’s health and injuries has not been released.

Are Pedestrian Accidents Common?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 2018 had the most pedestrian deaths on record at 6,283 since 1990. In 2017, there was one pedestrian killed in the United States every 88 minutes. The elderly and young children are at the most risk of pedestrian accidents. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were nearly 129,000 pedestrians that sustained injuries after crashes which required treatment in emergency departments in 2015 alone. 

What Should You do if Charged With a Hit-And-Run in San Diego?

There is no denying how terrifying and traumatic traffic accidents are. If you had the unfortunate experience of hitting a pedestrian while driving and in a panic, you fled the scene, you are in violation of the law in California. California law requires anyone involved in an accident in which property damages and or physical injuries occur to stay at the scene. Failure to do so can result in either a misdemeanor or felony criminal charges. Continue reading

On Sunday, January 19, a man struck and killed a pedestrian in Sherman Heights. According to the authorities at the San Diego Police Department, the man fled the scene after he hit the pedestrian, and hit another car before stopping for food. 

Apparently the man stopped at Humberto’s Taco Shop located close to Broadway and 25th Street to grab a meal after he hit the pedestrian. There were photos that showed the suspect eating at Humberto’s. After he finished his meal at the restaurant, he was entering his SUV when two women confronted him. He just sped away.

The pedestrian that lost his life was identified by authorities as Jason Gordon, 41, of San Diego. Gordon’s widow, Katie Gordon, was interviewed on Monday, January 20 on CBS8. A devastated Gordon explained that her husband had a love for life, his daughters, his wife, his friends, and his extended family. The Gordon family was in the process of finding a bigger home near San Diego State University to relocate. An operations manager at Tiffany’s, Jason Gordon was leaving a friend’s party when he was hit and killed.

There has been a GoFundMe page set up for the family. According to reports, Gordon was tragically hit by the SUV and dragged 100 feet on the 1800 block of Market Street. The San Diego Police Department has released a picture of the suspect’s vehicle in an attempt to see if the public can help find the man.

Prevalence of Hit-And-Run Accidents

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, when one person who is a part of a vehicular accident flees the scene, the accident becomes a hit-and-run. Across the United States, anyone who is involved in a crash must stay at the scene. It is unlawful to leave without offering information or aid to other parties in the accident; failing to report the crash is not acceptable. 

Unfortunately, the rates of these accidents that result in death are on the rise. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 2015 there were 737,100 hit-and-run accidents, which means that one takes place somewhere in the country every 43 seconds. 2016 had the highest number of fatalities from these accidents at 2,049. 

In California, if you are charged with a hit-and-run you could be facing either a misdemeanor or a felony. The seasoned California hit-and-run defense attorneys at the Law Offices of David M. Boertje know how to fight on behalf of defendants and win. Facing a hit-and-run charge in San Diego or the North County area means that you could have your life significantly altered for the worse. You need effective legal representation to preserve your legal rights. Continue reading

A fatal hit-and-run occurred last month when Gloria Williams, 62, was riding in her motorized wheelchair along the street of Euclid Avenue. She was hit from behind by a dark-colored SUV at approximately 3:45 p.m., the San Diego Police Department reports. A video of the SUV that hit Williams was obtained from street light cameras near the scene of the accident. The SUV was also recorded at a nearby gas station. The video evidence showed that the driver of the SUV was a black male with very short hair. He was using a cane to walk and was wearing baggy plaid pants with a “#here we go! Steelers” sweatshirt. The San Diego Police are asking the public to call the county Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8411 or go to their website at sdcrimestoppers.org with information. Anyone who has a tip will remain anonymous and be able to obtain a reward for any information that leads to an arrest.

Hit-and-Run Laws in California

In the state of California, anyone who is involved in an accident must stop and provide aid to those injured as well as exchange information. Under Vehicle Code Section 20002 failure to do so when property damage is involved will result in a misdemeanor charge. Under Vehicle Code Section 20001, a hit-and-run accident becomes a felony when there are physical injuries to a victim. If fatal injuries are sustained in one of these accidents, it is required that the California Highway Patrol or the local authorities are notified.

Legal Representation for California Residents Facing Hit-and-Run Charges

If you are facing criminal charges for leaving the scene of an accident, it is highly advisable that you do not speak with anyone about your case because you could jeopardize it. You have rights that deserve to be protected, and if you are under investigation, make sure that you have a qualified San Diego hit-and-run defense lawyer by your side during any questioning. You are not required to answer questions without legal representation looking out for your best interests.

The success of your case and your ability to stay out of jail are determined by your defense. The effective and aggressive California criminal defense attorneys at the Law Offices of David M. Boertje have a proven track record of success defending those who are facing serious charges like hit-and-run. There are a number of strategies that can be used in your defense to lessen or eliminate your charges. The results of a hit-and-run conviction include steep fines, time in jail, and a permanent criminal record. You cannot take any chances that the rest of your life will be negatively impacted because of one mistake. Continue reading

According to witnesses, a man who likely suffered from some form of mental illness was dancing in the center divider of the I-5 north of Palomar Street in Chula Vista before being hit by a car and then by a motorcycle. The victim has been identified by the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office as 40-year-old Ricardo Jose Borrego. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

It is reported by the California Highway Patrol office that the first car that hit Borrego left the scene and is still being sought. Shortly after the initial collision, a 30-year-old motorcyclist then hit Borrego who was already down in one of the lanes. The cyclist himself lost control of his bike and went down, suffering some injuries. After that, a Toyota tundra behind the cyclist swerved in an attempt to avoid hitting Borrego, and ran him over.  

According to a CHP incident log, 911 callers said Borrego was wearing black clothing and dancing in the center divider before he attempted crossing the freeway.

California Hit and Run Accidents

It is a crime to get into a car accident and leave, regardless of whether it was your fault or not.  Specifically, California Penal Code § 20002 states that in order to receive a hit and run charge, you must have:

• Left the scene of the accident without first identifying yourself to those involved; and
• Damaged another person’s property.

There are two types of hit and run accidents one can be charged with – either a misdemeanor or felony. A misdemeanor involves property damage and is punishable by $1000 fine and up to six months in jail. A felony involves injury or death to another party, and punishable by up to a $10,000 fine and four years in jail.

Legal Defenses

You can fight hit and run charges if you did not realize you had been involved in an accident (ie. you did not intentionally leave the scene), or if your car was the only thing damaged. Continue reading