California Injury Blog
A 54-year-old man was killed in a Los Angeles motorcycle accident, which officials say, involved a hit-and-run driver. According to a CBS Los Angeles news report, the fatal crash occurred at the intersection of Soto Street and Lancaster Avenue in Boyle Heights early morning on October 28, 2013. Police say the motorcyclist was leaving his job as a probation officer at the Eastlake Juvenile Facility when a gray, four-door Honda Civic DX, which was changing lanes, struck him.
Officials say the driver made an unsafe lane change and veered into the number two lane colliding with the motorcycle. The impact sent the motorcyclist into a traffic pole, which then fell on top of him. The victim died at the scene. Anyone with information about the hit-and-run driver is asked to contact LAPD.
I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of this deceased probation officer. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Motorcycle Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2010 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 25 fatalities and 1,245 injuries reported as a result of motorcycle accidents in the city of Los Angeles. Countywide, 74 people died and 2,637 were injured due to motorcycle crashes during the same year.
Hit-and-Run Law
Based on this news report, it appears that the driver of the vehicle not only made an unsafe lane change, but also struck the motorcyclist and drove away leaving the injured victim lying on the street. Appalling! Leaving the scene of an injury or fatal crash is also a felony crime in our state. California Vehicle Code 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 certainly hope that officials are able to apprehend this hit-and-run driver and bring him or her to justice. If you have any information about this incident, please visit our web site at www.hitandrunreward.com to offer an anonymous tip and to become eligible for a $1,000 reward.
Families of deceased hit-and-run victims would also be well advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. A knowledgeable car accident attorney will also advise victims’ families about how their auto insurance policies might apply to cases where the driver is never found, or, in cases where the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.