Hit and run accidents have risen a steady 7% a year over the last decade, and there is no sign that this is going to slow down any time soon. Each year, there are almost 750,000 hit and run accidents a year in the U.S., and out of those, roughly 2,100 end up in fatalities.
When the driver involved in an accident flees, it can be devastating and dangerous for the victim. In many cases, a victim is unable to help themselves. They may be trapped or unconscious, and when the driver takes off, this leaves the victims at further risk.
Three Dead and Four Injured in Los Angeles County Hit and Runs on Sunday
Two separate hit and run crashes happened on Sunday, January 19, 2020, in Los Angeles County left three teens dead and four others seriously injured. Around 9 p.m., an SUV slammed into a minivan occupied by a family that had just left a laundromat.
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A 12-year-old boy was ejected from the minivan and was taken to a local hospital in critical condition. The driver of the SUV fled on foot, and police believe that the driver lives nearby.
Around 10:30 p.m. in El Monte, three teens were killed and three others seriously injured when the Toyota Prius they were riding in was hit by an Infinity. The Toyota then slammed into a tree, and all six passengers were trapped inside.
Tragically, three of the passengers died, and the other three are in critical but stable condition at a local hospital. Police arrested the driver of the infinity about a half-mile from the scene and charged him with vehicular homicide.
Hit and Run Fatalities
When the driver of a car flees, the victims are left to fend for themselves. Many times, there are passersby who come to aid, so there is no delay in the aid for the victims. However, even then, victims sometimes succumb to their injuries, and the fact that it was a hit and run makes it even more difficult for the family members of those that died.
If the at-fault driver flees, then the family of the deceased may not be compensated for their loss. Typically, the insurance company for the at-fault driver will cover the losses in a wrongful death claim, but if the driver is unknown, then the insurance company is also unknown.
If the victims have their own insurance policy that has uninsured and underinsured motorist’s coverage, then this will usually cover the losses. However, when this isn’t the case, then the only hope is to catch the at-fault driver and hope that he or she has insurance.
Why hit-and-run cases rise in LA is quite troublesome. So, if you’ve been in a hit and run accident and were injured or have a family member who has passed because of their injuries, then you should talk to an attorney to help you determine if there is coverage for your losses.
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Contact an Auto Accident Attorney
The best thing to do when injured in an automobile accident is to talk to a Los Angeles Car Accident Attorney who understands the law and has experience getting injured victims the compensation they deserve.
Call the Law Offices of Steers & Associates at 800 824 5416 or click here to contact us online. We have attorneys with years of experience dealing with every type of motor vehicle accident, and we get results against the insurance companies and their highly-paid lawyers. Call us now to even the playing field and get the compensation you deserve.
Allen Vaysberg practices personal injury law and works tirelessly to defeat the tactics of insurance companies and large corporations who try to deny justice and fair compensation to injured people.