A 27-year old man from Sacramento died after his bicycle was struck by a car on Wednesday in Modesto. The deadly Modesto car accident happened at 7:15 p.m. on Fulkerth Road. Vanessa Carillo, 21, was driving her Toyota at approximately 55 mph, when she hit the bicyclist from behind, killing him instantly  She then proceeded to flee from the scene of the collision and waited over an hour to call the California Highway Patrol.  When she called, she claimed she struck a dog and denied hitting a person although she eventually admitted to noticing a body on the road. Although initial reports indicate drugs and alcohol were not a factor, the  California Highway Patrol is still investiging the Modesto accident.

We are sending our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased cyclist. Based on the California Highway Patrol Statistics in 2008 there were 22,091 injuries, caused by irresponsible drivers in hit-and-run collisions.

In California, the law requires a driver that has been involved in a collision to stop and present his or her license and insurance information, regardless of the level of seriousness or extent of injury. Failing to do may result in criminal charges including a Felony Hit & Run charge when a victim sustains serious injuries.

Nothing is more devastating than losing a loved one, especially if it is unexpected and as the result of someone’s negligence. The law provides that certain family members, usually a spouse, child or parent, have the right to recover compensation for certain losses if someone is liable for causing another person’s death. These losses include both economic and non-economic damages. The most significant economic loss recoverable in a wrongful death claim is typically the loss of financial support and other benefits that the deceased would have provided in his or her lifetime to the person making the claim. Non-economic damages include the loss of love, support and companionship of the deceased person. Anyone who has lost a loved one as the result of another’s negligence or carelessness is advised to contact an experienced California Personal Injury Attorney who will hire investigators and accident reconstruction experts to conduct a thorough investigation of the incident, advise the victim of all legal rights, and file a lawsuit if necessary to obtain fair compensation.

If you or a loved one is injured or dies in a hit and run accident, you are strongly advised to consult with an experienced Sacramento Personal Injury Attorney. In hit and run cases, law enforcement does not always have the time or resources to investigate and track down a hit and run driver. A knowledgeable Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer can investigate and hold a hit and run driver responsible for his or her actions. A good California Auto Accident Attorney will advise you of all your rights with regard to a civil claim for damages and recovery under all available insurance policies.

The Demas Law Group personal injury law firm is not currently representing anyone mentioned in this article at the time it was posted. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your legal rights and options, call us or another well recognized and respected personal injury law firm. Please do not rely or act solely upon the information provided in this article. Please consider getting a consultation immediately. The best personal injury law firms will provide a free consultation. Demas Law Group will provide a free, confidential consultation to the persons who were not at fault named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well