Police are looking for the driver who they say struck two women in South Los Angeles and then took off. According to CBS Los Angeles, the injury collision occurred the night of May 17, 2014 near Colden Avenue and Figueroa Street. Officials say the two women were crossing the street when they were hit. The driver left the scene. The injured victims were transported to an area trauma center where they were listed in stable condition. Police say the car that hit them was a gray Honda.
I’m relieved to note that the women were not critically or fatally wounded in this hit-and-run crash. I wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Hit-and-Run Capital of the Nation
Los Angeles is quickly gaining notoriety as the “hit-and-run capital” of the nation. According to statistics released by the LAPD, after hitting pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcycles and other vehicles, as many as 20,000 Los Angeles motorists flee the scene each year. About 4,000 of the people who are hit in those collisions are injured or killed. Nationwide, about 11 percent of collisions involve a hit-and-run driver. In Los Angeles, the driver fails to stop in 48 percent – nearly half – of all reported traffic accidents.
Laws and Liability Issues
According to California Vehicle Code 20001 (a), it is illegal for a driver to leave the scene of an injury or fatal accident. Drivers have the legal obligation to stop, remain at the scene of the accident, exchange pertinent information with other parties and most importantly, obtain aid for the injured victims. In this particular case, the driver did none of the above, but simply left, leaving the women on the roadway, vulnerable to further injury. Appalling!
If you have any information about this incident, please visit our Hit-and-Run Reward website at www.hitandrunreward.com to offer an anonymous tip and to become eligible for a $1,000 reward.
As Los Angeles car accident lawyers who represent victims of hit-and-run crashes, we see first-hand, the physical, emotional and financial devastation these incidents cause. Leaving the scene of an accident is an unethical and inexcusable act. Fear or panic is simply not a good enough excuse in my book for leaving an injured person lying on the roadway. Let’s do our civic duty and turn in these irresponsible drivers who are simply unwilling to do the right thing.