Hit-and-Run Incident with Injuries on US101 in San Jose

A hit-and-run incident involving multiple vehicles occurred on the southbound US101 near Brokaw Road in San Jose on Friday, December 6, 2024, at approximately 5:46 PM. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that the collision initially involved two vehicles, a black BMW sedan and an unknown sedan, blocking the first lane. The situation escalated to include three vehicles, with one vehicle remaining drivable while others were not.

Emergency services were dispatched to the scene as the incident was upgraded to a hit-and-run with injuries. The collision resulted in significant traffic disruptions, with lanes one and two blocked, causing delays for commuters. The CHP and local authorities are investigating the incident to identify the driver responsible for fleeing the scene.

Motorists are advised to exercise caution while traveling through the area and to seek alternate routes if possible. The absence of Freeway Service Patrol (FSP) assistance on US101 from Ellis Street to Monterey Road may prolong traffic delays. Our thoughts are with those affected by this unfortunate event, and we urge anyone with information to contact local law enforcement.

Potential Legal Considerations

In a situation where someone is hurt because of another person’s carelessness, the law calls this negligence. Negligence happens when someone does not act as carefully as they should, and this causes harm to another person. For example, if a driver does not pay attention to the road and causes an accident, they might be considered negligent. The person who got hurt can then ask for help from the law to get better.

When someone is hurt because of negligence, they have the right to ask for compensation. This means they can ask the person who was careless to pay for things like medical bills and other costs related to the incident. Sometimes, the person who was hurt might also get money for things that are harder to measure, like pain and suffering. The goal is to help the injured person get back to where they were before the accident happened.

Insurance can play a big role in these situations. Many people have insurance that can help pay for damages if they accidentally hurt someone. If the person who caused the accident has insurance, the injured person can file a claim with the insurance company. This means the insurance company might pay for the costs instead of the person who was careless. It’s important for the injured person to report the accident to the insurance company as soon as possible to start this process.

In some cases, the insurance company might not want to pay what the injured person thinks is fair. If this happens, the injured person might need to talk to a lawyer to help them. A lawyer can help explain the injured person’s rights and make sure they get the compensation they deserve. It’s important for everyone involved to understand their rights and responsibilities to make sure the situation is handled fairly.