California Injury Blog
Three children were struck and injured in a Los Angeles car accident, which officials say, involved a hit-and-run driver. According to a City News Service report, the injury collision occurred the evening of October 29, 2011 in the 100 block of East 47th Street. Police say the three siblings – two boys, ages 4 and 6, and their sister, 11 – were transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver left the scene of the crash without stopping or helping the injured children. Anyone with more information about the driver or the vehicle is asked to contact LAPD at 213-972-1853.
My heart goes out to these three injured children and I am extremely relieved that they did not suffer critical injuries in this hit-and-run car accident. I wish the injured children the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 82 fatalities and 2,630 injuries reported due to pedestrian accidents in the city of Los Angeles. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 179 people died and 4,918 were injured as a result of pedestrian accidents, during the same year.
Hit-and-Run Law
Based on this news report, the driver of the vehicle that hit the children fled the scene, without even stopping to help them. What kind of a person hits three young children and drives away without even checking to see if they were hurt? Unconscionable! Not only is leaving the scene of an injury crash an inhumane and irresponsible act, but it is also illegal. 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.”
Holding Hit-and-Run Drivers Accountable
I trust officials are soon able to apprehend this driver and bring him or her to justice. If you witnessed this crash or have information about the suspect, please visit our dedicated hit-and-run web site at www.hitandrunreward.com to offer an anonymous tip and also become eligible for a $1,000 reward.
Hit-and-run victims and their families would be well advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, who will stay on top of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. A skilled car accident attorney will also better advise victims or their families about how their own auto insurance policy applies to an incident where the hit-and-run driver is never found, or, in a case where the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.