California Injury Blog
Police in Pacific Palisades are looking for a hit-and-run driver who struck a pedestrian. According to a CBS Los Angeles news report, the pedestrian was struck by a vehicle early morning on March 8, 2017 near Pacific Coast Highway and Sunset Boulevard. The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment of serious injuries. It is not clear if the pedestrian suffered life-threatening injuries. The driver fled the scene. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. No description was available for the driver or vehicle.
Our thoughts and prayers are with this injured pedestrian. We wish this individual the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Los Angeles Pedestrian Accidents
There were 90 fatalities and 2,639 injuries reported as a result of pedestrian accidents in 2013, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In Los Angeles County as a whole, 211 people died and 4,721 were injured due to pedestrian accidents during the same year.
Leaving the Scene of a Crash
Based on this news report, it appears that the driver of the vehicle struck the pedestrian at or near the intersection and then fled without exchanging information or offering aid or assistance. This is illegal under California law.
Under California Vehicle Code Section 20001 (a): “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.” In addition, the driver must also exchange information such as driver’s license, insurance, contact information, etc. and help the injured victims or victims.
Compensation for Injured Victims
Pedestrians are often victims of hit-and-run crashes. They are also among the most severely injured because of the impact a vehicle can have when it strikes a person with significant force. Victims often suffer significant injuries such as brain injuries, spinal cord trauma, broken bones and internal organ damage.
In such cases, it might be challenging for victims to seek compensation, particularly if the at-fault driver has not been identified or apprehended. An experienced Los Angeles car accident lawyer can help victims obtain compensation through the uninsured motorist clause of their own auto insurance policies. In addition, a knowledgeable attorney might also be able to determine whether a dangerous roadway condition caused or contributed to the accident. If that was the case, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway can also be held accountable.