A 26-year-old man was seriously injured in a San Diego car accident after he was struck by a vehicle outside a restaurant in Chula Vista early morning on February 11, 2010. According to a 10news report, the man was standing in a parking lot outside Agave Grill on H Street when a red, 1990s model Chevy Camaro struck him and fled the scene. Officials said the victim went home believing he was fine. But several hours later, he became ill and was taken to the hospital. He had suffered internal bleeding and head trauma. Police are looking for the hit-and-run motorist.

My heart goes out to this injured victim. This incident is yet another reminder for all of us to contact police right away when an incident like this happens and go to the hospital or emergency room. The shock of being hit sometimes numbs victims. And, as it happened in this case, victims do not start feeling their injuries until several hours after the incident. Internal injuries and trauma are particularly dangerous as they have the potential to be fatal. I hope and pray that this victim recovers quickly and completely from his injuries.

Hit-and-Run Law

Based on this report, police believe that the driver of the hit-and-run vehicle may have been part of an altercation that occurred inside the restaurant and moved out to a parking lot. Witnesses say the victim did not have anything to do with the fight. They say he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. The driver of the Camaro should have stopped at the scene, as required by California law.

According to California Vehicle Code section 20001: "The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person, other than himself or herself, or in the death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident."

Liability Issues

In such cases, injured victims would be well-advised to contact an experienced Chula Vista personal injury lawyer who will financially pursue the negligent motorist found responsible for the collision and make sure the victims receive fair compensation for their injuries, damages and loss. A skilled car accident lawyer will also be able to tell victims how the uninsured/underinsured clause of their car insurance policy applies to a hit-and-run accident or an accident caused by 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.