California Injury Blog
Authorities are looking for the hit-and-run driver who they say caused a fatal Los Angeles car accident, which killed a motorcyclist the night of November 30, 2009. According to a City News Service report, a white Dodge van was traveling west on 120th Street when its driver sped through a red light and struck the man, who was riding a 2001 Suzuki motorcycle south on Main Street. The van then fled the scene of the accident. Los Angeles police said the motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
The suspect vehicle is described as a white, 1980s Dodge van with a blue stripe running down the middle of the vehicle. The driver is described as a black man with short hair, wearing black jeans and a white shirt that also has a blue stripe on the middle. The news story indicates that the motorcyclist may have been a member of the Street Heat Motorcycle Club. Anyone who witnessed this fatal hit-and-run car accident is asked to call the South Traffic Division detectives at 323-290-6063.
I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of this motorcyclist, who have indeed suffered a devastating loss. Please keep them in your prayers.
Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 32 fatalities and 1,158 injuries involving motorcycle accidents were reported in the city of Los Angeles. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 85 people died and 2,792 were injured as a result of motorcycle accidents during the same year. Also, countywide, car accidents claimed 712 lives and injured 56,475 people in 2007.
I trust authorities will soon apprehend this hit-and-run driver and bring him to justice. In this particular case, the driver seems to have committed some serious crimes. First, he is said to have run a red light. Then he struck the motorcyclist, killing him, after which he fled the scene of the accident.
Hit-and-Run Laws in California
Under California law, leaving the scene of an accident is a serious crime. According to California Vehicle Code section 20001: “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.” This man could be facing felony hit and-run and vehicular manslaughter charges at the least.
It is only right that in such cases, the at-fault parties be held civilly liable for their actions as well. The family of this deceased motorcyclist would be well-advised to consult with a reputed personal injury attorney in Los Angeles, who has a successful track record of financially pursuing negligent and drunk drivers. A skilled car accident lawyer can advise the victim’s family how to go about filing a wrongful death claim and also how the victim’s auto insurance coverage would apply to a hit-and-run case or an incident where the negligent driver is uninsured or underinsured.
The Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.