According to recent reports, police scoured the Fresno area recently searching for the driver of a U-Haul that slammed into a limousine, sending 12 people to the hospital with injuries ranging from minor to traumatic. It appears the U-Haul driver veered into the side of the limo, which was stopped at an intersection. The driver of the U-Haul fled on foot immediately following the accident. The U-Haul was carrying remodeling waste material, but there was nothing suspicious about the contents. Officers found alcohol inside the cab of the U-Haul, but it is unclear if the driver was actually impaired. The driver remains at large and police are asking for help identifying him or her.
Drivers Flee The Scene in Record Numbers
According to current statistics, hit-and-run crashes are on the rise in many major cities by as much as 13 percent, causing lawmakers to consider stiffer penalties for this offense. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 1,449 fatal hit-and-run crashes in 2011, which is an increase of 13.7 percent over prior years. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety did a study and found that almost one in five pedestrian fatalities are a result of a hit-and-run incident. The study pointed out that alcohol is often a factor in these crashes. The foundation also reports drivers are more likely to run if they feel there is a reason to do so, such as the threat of jail or a hefty fine. Statistics have found the drivers who run are usually younger, do not have a license, have a high blood alcohol content, or have some combination of the three.
Some people think hit-and-run indicates a lack of values and morals, while others think it hinges on a lack of maturity or fear of going to jail. The problem has become so widespread that many states are now changing their laws to include stiffer penalties for those who flee the scene of an accident.
California has a higher fatality rate than any other state when it comes to hit-and-run drivers, and other statistics reveal most of those drivers do not hold valid licenses. The state is working to change its laws to require a valid license in order for an individual to purchase car insurance, thus changing the demographic of uninsured drivers.
The attorneys at Ashley Injury Lawyers in Roseville offer help for those who have been injured in a hit-and-run crash. If you have been affected by a hit-and-run driver, contact the Ashley Injury Lawyers for a free consultation and let us help you recover the compensation you need for your expenses.
