USC Student Injured in Hit-and-Run Crash

Police are asking for the public’s help to find a driver who they say was involved in a hit-and-run crash near the USC campus that left a student injured. According to a KABC news report, the 20-year-old student was crossing the intersection of 18th Street and Figueroa Avenue the night of November 5, 2013 in a marked crosswalk when a driver ran a red light and struck him. The victim was transported to a local hospital with injuries to his hip and shoulder. The suspect’s vehicle is believed to be a 2008 Honda. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact 1-877-527-3247.

I’m relieved to note that the student’s injuries are not life threatening. I wish him the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

LA Pedestrian Collisions

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2010 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 100 fatalities and 2,512 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in the city of Los Angeles. Countywide, 195 people died and 4,535 were injured in pedestrian accidents during the same year.

Violation of Laws

Based on this news report, it appears that the driver of the Honda not only ran a red light and struck a pedestrian who was legally crossing the street in a crosswalk, but also left the scene of an injury crash. The driver left the victim lying on the roadway exposed to further injury and harm. Leaving the scene of a crash is also illegal under California law.

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.”

If you have any information about this incident, please visit our dedicated hit-and-run web site at www.hitandrunreward.com to offer an anonymous tip and to become eligible for a $1,000 reward. I certainly hope that this hit-and-run driver is apprehended and brought to justice.

Protecting Victims’ Rights

Injured victims of hit-and-run crashes would 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 lawyer can also help victims understand how their own auto insurance policy might apply to an incident where the driver is not found or in a case where the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.