Man arrested for DUI hit-and-run causing fatal injury to young woman in San Diego.

California – July 28, 2022

A fatal hit-and-run accident in San Diego that ended the life of a 20-year-old woman was caused by a driver suspected of driving under the influence of drugs. El Cajon Police officers found the woman on the roadway near the on-ramp to I-8.  A citizen reported that a 2006 Hyundai Sonata stopped in the middle of the road in the 1300 block of Naranca Avenue with damage to the front of his car and a signal light hanging from the vehicle.  A preliminary investigation found the driver was traveling north on Second Street when he left the roadway and struck the young woman who was on the sidewalk. The driver continued traveling until his vehicle hit a traffic light and street sign before stopping on Naranca Avenue.  Law enforcement determined the male driver was under the influence of a narcotic controlled substance at the time of the crash. A car accident attorney can answer questions regarding options for compensation of injuries, including wrongful death lawsuits initiated by surviving loved ones.

Recoverable damages award.

If the wrongful death litigation attorney is successful, a claim award will address the losses that include medical treatment, future medical expenses, changes in live expenses, lost and future wages, and compensation for any future loss of companionship, comfort, and affection.

Payment of awards/car insurance coverage.

California law requires that drivers have a way to cover costs related to damages, or injuries they have caused in a car accident. Purchasing liability car insurance is the simplest and most common way people choose to meet this requirement. If the accident was caused due to hit-and-run action by the driver, the criminal act may have some bearing on the outcome of the personal injury civil case.

Criminal hit-and-run.

A California hit and run driver that causes serious bodily injury to another may be charged with a misdemeanor, or a felony.  If individuals are convicted of a misdemeanor violation under CVC 20001(b)(2), they may face a hit and run punishment of:

• A minimum of 90 days and up to one year in jail,
• A fine between $1,000 and $10,000 dollars, or
• Both, imprisonment and a fine.

If individuals are convicted of a felony violation under CVC 20001(b)(2), they may face a hit and run punishment of:

• Two, three or four years in prison
• A fine between $1,000 and $10,000, or
• Both, imprisonment and a fine.

Hire an attorney.

Seek legal counsel immediately after a car crash involving a hit-and-run charge that causes severe injury, or loss.  An attorney who is familiar with hit-and-run laws in California can be reached at the Law Offices of Jeffrey E. Estes & Associates, and can be resourceful in the personal injury case against a negligent driver.

Jeffrey E. Estes & Associates, a Professional Law Corporation

501 West Broadway, Suite 1650

San Diego, CA 92101

Phone: 619-233-8021

Fax: 619-233-3730

Sources:

1. El Cajon Police Arrest Suspect in DUI Hit-and-Run Death on I-8 Entrance Ramp – Times of San Diego
2. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&sectionNum=20001