A 31-year-old bicyclist was injured in a Los Angeles car accident, the night of September 27, 2011. According to a news report in The San Gabriel Valley Tribune, the hit-and-run car accident occurred at the intersection of Walnut Street and Los Robles Avenue in Pasadena. The rider was crossing the street at the intersection when a dark-colored SUV clipped the back of the bicycle. The victim sustained facial injuries and was transported to a local hospital for further examination. Officials are still looking for the hit-and-run driver.
My thoughts and prayers are with the injured victim of this hit-and-run car accident. I wish him the very best for a complete and speedy recovery.
Bicycle Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 75 bicyclists were injured in Pasadena bicycle accidents. During that same year, there were 22 fatalities and 3,725 injuries reported due to Los Angeles County bicycle accidents.
Leaving the Scene of a Crash
The driver involved in this injury accident fled the scene without stopping to help the victim, exchanging information or contacting the authorities as required by the law. 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.” Not only is leaving the scene of an injury car accident illegal, but it is an unconscionable and despicable act.
I truly hope officials quickly locate and apprehend this hit-and-run driver. If you have any information about this accident, please visit our web site, www.hitandrunreward.com. Our site allows witnesses to provide an anonymous tip and become eligible to receive a $1,000 reward.
Protecting Victims’ Rights
Victims of hit-and-run accidents would be well-advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. Injured victims in such cases can seek compensation for medical expenses, loss of earnings, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, and other related damages. A knowledgeable car accident attorney will also inform victims about how their own car insurance policy applies to an incident where the hit-and-run driver is never found, or, in an incident where the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.