A 47-year-old woman was critically injured in a San Francisco car accident, which officials say involved a hit-and-run driver. According to a Bay City News report, the injury collision occurred the evening of February 13, 2012 at the intersection of Mission and 13th streets. The woman was walking south on Mission before attempting to cross 13th Street. She was in the crosswalk on a green light when a white truck hit her. The driver who hit the woman as he was making a right turn onto eastbound 13th Street accelerated and drove away from the scene. He was later identified as 55-year-old Craig Sheppard and arrested on suspicion of hit-and-run and failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. The victim was transported to a local hospital with life threatening head injuries.

My heart goes out to the critically injured victim of this hit-and-run car accident. I wish her the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. She will be in my thoughts and prayers.

San Francisco Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 21 fatalities and 699 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in San Francisco. During the same year, 39 people were killed and 3,405 were injured as a result of San Francisco car accidents.

Violation of Laws

Based on this news report, the driver of the pickup truck, Sheppard, not only mowed down a pedestrian who was walking in a marked crosswalk with a green light, but also fled the scene of the accident leaving the critically injured victim lying on the roadway, exposed to further injury. Appalling! I’m relieved to note that this driver has been apprehended.

Not only is leaving the scene of a car accident inhumane and irresponsible, but it is also illegal. California Vehicle Code Section 20001 (a) states: "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." In addition, California Vehicle Code Section 21950 states: "The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection."

Compensation for Injured Victims

In such cases where negligence or wrongdoing is involved, an injured victim as well as his or family would be well advised to contact an experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer, who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. A skilled car accident attorney will also be able to inform victims about how their own auto insurance policy might apply to an incident where the at-fault motorist is uninsured or underinsured.