California Injury Blog
A 35-year-old man died after being struck by two hit-and-run drivers in South Los Angeles. According to a KTLA news report, the crash occurred early morning on April 12 near the intersection of Main and 70th streets in the Florence neighborhood. A light-colored, two-door car heading south crashed into a pedestrian who was in the southbound lanes of Main Street. The impact caused the pedestrian to be catapulted into the air and land on the northbound lanes of Main Street.
Fatal Hit and Run
The driver did not stop to help the victim, as shown in a video released by police. After the initial crash, a female driver who appeared to drive very close to where the victim had landed, stopped the vehicle, got out, and seemed to try and help the pedestrian. At that point, the victim was still moving and can be heard in the video calling out for help. The two were involved in a brief conversation before the driver got back into her vehicle and left the scene.
Moments later, the driver of a light-colored Toyota Prius, which appeared to be a taxi, also stopped for the fallen pedestrian, who was still lying in the middle of the street. As the Prius driver was checking on the victim, a dark-colored car heading north on Main Street ran over the victim and dragged him about 60 feet before he was dislodged. The driver of the sedan did not stop.
A person is then heard yelling “follow the car!” but the Prius driver can be seen in the video making a U-turn and leaving the scene. By the time paramedics arrived on the scene, the victim has succumbed to his injuries. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call LAPD at 213- 833-3713.
Laws and Liability Issues
Leaving the scene of an injury or fatal crash is a felony crime under California law. California Vehicle Code Section 20001 (a) requires motorists to remain at the scene of a crash, cooperate with the authorities, exchange pertinent information with other parties involved in the crash and most importantly, get the injured victims the help they need. In many cases, simply calling 911 right away can help save the life of an injured victim.
In such cases, families of deceased hit-and-run victims would be well advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles car accident lawyer who will stay abreast of the official investigation and help ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. A knowledgeable lawyer will also be able to advise victims and their families about how their own auto insurance policy might help compensate them for some of their tremendous losses, especially in cases where the driver has not been identified or in cases where the at-fault parties are uninsured or underinsured.
Source: https://ktla.com/news/local-news/man-dies-after-being-struck-by-2-hit-and-run-drivers-in-south-l-a-police-seek-2-others-who-checked-on-victim/