California Injury Blog
Jose Luis Garcia, 15, has been seriously injured in a hit and run crash in Hawthorne. According to a KTLA news report, the boy’s mother Florencia Lopez said her son wanted to ride his bicycle alongside her when she walked to the bus stop the morning of Oct. 2. Lopez said she was on her way to a job interview and that Jose wanted to make sure she got there safely.
Serious Injuries Sustained
That was when a white vehicle struck her son at the intersection of Doty and Rosecrans avenues, she said. The driver fled the scene. Lopez said vehicles going in both directions had the red light. So, she assumed the vehicle would stop, but it did not. Jose remains hospitalized with a major head injury, a broken right arm, left leg broken from the knee down and fractured ankles.
The boy is expected to survive, but will need a lot of treatment, police said. Police have now released surveillance footage showing the white, four-door sedan involved in the crash, which investigators believe is a Toyota Corolla or Camry. Officials also said it would have damage to the windshield or the front passenger side. As the teen remains hospitalized, his mother has urged the driver to come forward. Anyone with information is urged to call Hawthorne police officials at 310-349-2703.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Jose Luis Garcia and his family. We wish him the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Laws and Liability Issues
It is illegal under California law to leave the scene of a car accident. In this particular case, based on preliminary investigations and media reports, it appears that the driver may have also been speeding and may have failed to yield the right of way to the pedestrians. In addition to these violations, the driver left the scene of a major injury crash, which is a felony crime under the law.
In such cases, it is often the victims of the hit-and-run families who face significant emotional and financial burdens stemming from mounting medical expenses and the fact that the driver has yet to be apprehended. Injured victims or their families would be well advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles hit and run lawyer who will remain on top of the official investigation and help ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer can also help families secure compensation for medical expenses and other treatment costs even if the at-fault driver hasn’t been apprehended or identified.
Source: https://ktla.com/news/local-news/hawthorne-police-search-for-driver-in-hit-and-run-crash-that-left-14-year-old-bicyclist-in-serious-condition/