California Injury Blog
A man was killed in a pedestrian accident in Exposition Park early on the morning of April 10 after two vehicles struck him.
According to a KTLA news report, one of the drivers fled the scene. The incident happened near the intersection of Normandie Avenue and West 36th Street. A man believed to be in his 30s was crossing the street when a vehicle that was heading southbound on Normandie struck him, LAPD officials said. The driver of that vehicle fled the scene.
Ongoing Hit-and-Run Investigation
The pedestrian was then struck by a second vehicle. That driver remained at the scene. The pedestrian was trapped under the second vehicle and had to be rescued by fire personnel. Once he was freed, paramedics pronounced him dead. The crash is still under investigation. There is no available description of the suspect vehicle that initially struck the pedestrian. The investigation is ongoing.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased pedestrian. We offer our deepest condolences to the victim’s family.
Leaving the Scene of a Crash
Based on this report, it appears that two drivers were involved in this collision. While the driver who initially struck the victim fled the crash scene, the other remained and cooperated with officials. Leaving the scene of an injury or fatal crash is a felony crime under California law – regardless of who was at fault for the collision. 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.”
Justice for Victims
In such cases, injured victims or their families would be well advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury attorney who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. At-fault motorists can be held liable for injuries and damages caused.
However, when the hit-and-run driver hasn’t been apprehended or identified, victims or their families may still be able to seek compensation through the uninsured motorist clause of their auto insurance policies. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer can help victims or families better understand how their own auto insurance policy might apply to a hit-and-run crash where the driver has not been identified or in a case where the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.
Source: https://ktla.com/news/local-news/pedestrian-killed-by-hit-and-run-driver-in-exposition-park/