When a group of people drive to a bar or restaurant for happy hour or dinner and drinks, they might share a car to stick together and avoid parking hassles. Passengers in the car hope and assume that the driver will monitor the amount of alcohol consumed in order to avoid a car crash or injury to other community members. Not surprisingly, people do not always take this responsibility seriously. When individuals drink and drive, they put everyone around them in harm’s way, which can result in a collision or pedestrian accident leading to life-threatening injuries.
Recently, a man in his 40’s suffered a serious hand injury, as well as damage to his leg after being hit by a car. The motorist did not stop at the scene; he was arrested in his San Diego home after the accident occurred. After hitting the pedestrian, he stopped twice to drop off passengers from his car, but, despite their urging, he did not return to the scene to check on the accident victim. The 35-year old driver of the car was charged with two felonies: hit-and-run and drunk driving.
The accident victim will undoubtedly incur substantial medical expenses to repair his leg and finger, as well as pain and suffering while his injuries heal. He may also lose time at work, resulting in lost wages. Depending on the severity of the finger injury, his career and future earnings could be impacted. In this type of situation, it may be a good idea to consult with an experienced attorney to discuss the driver’s liability. An accident victim may be able to file a legal claim demanding payment of all appropriate monetary sums from a driver who was at fault.
Source: U-T San Diego, “Police: Driver let out passengers, then fled injury accident,” Susan Shroder, May 17, 2013