California Laws on Road Injuries and Accidental Death
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, nearly 4,195 people died and 277,373 people were injured in California traffic collisions in 2006.
Here are the laws applicable in a California car accident road injury and accidental death:
CVC Section 20003. Duty Upon Injury or Death
The driver should render to any person injured in the accident reasonable assistance, including transporting, or making arrangements for transporting, any injured person to a physician, surgeon, or hospital for medical or surgical treatment if it is apparent that treatment is necessary or if that transportation is requested by any injured person.
The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person should provide the following information to any traffic or police officer at the scene of the accident:
- His or her name
- Current residence address
- The names and current residence addresses of all of the vehicle’s passengers
- The registration number of the vehicle he or she is driving
- The name and current residence address of the driver and/or passengers/s of the other vehicle/s
CVC Section 20004. Duty Upon Death
If there is no traffic or police officer at the scene where a person died as a result of the accident, the driver shall, without delay, report the accident to the nearest office of the Department of the California Highway Patrol or office of a duly authorized police authority and submit with the report the information required by Section 20003.
CVC Section 23105 and 23109.1
A person convicted of driving recklessly or engaging in a speed contest, which causes bodily injury to another person, is subject to:
- Imprisonment in a county jail or state prison for a minimum of 30 days to six months.
- A fine ranging from $220 to $1,000.
- Or both fine and imprisonment.
CVC Section 2800.3 (a)
A person is convicted of causing serious bodily injury during the course of a police pursuit, he/she is subject to:
- Imprisonment in a state prison for three, five, or seven years or in a county jail for not more than one year.
- A fine of not less than $2,000 Nor more than $10,000.
- Both a fine and imprisonment.
Penal Code 192 (c). Vehicular Manslaughter is driving a vehicle in the commission of an unlawful act, not amounting to felony, and with or without gross negligence; or driving a vehicle in the commission of a lawful act which might produce death, in an unlawful manner, and with gross negligence.
Penal Code 192.5 (e) A person who flees the scene of the crime, in addition and consecutive to the punishment prescribed, shall be punished by an additional term of imprisonment of five years in the state prison.