Hit and Run

Man Killed in San Bernardino Motorcycle Accident

January 27, 2011 | by Robert Walch

A high speed chase, involving a stolen pickup truck, has resulted in a motorcyclist getting killed in San Bernardino, California. The incident began when a man called police as he was following his car, which had been stolen.

Police followed the 2001 Ford F-150 pick up truck until it entered the wrong way onto the exit ramp of Interstate 215. Police chose to no longer follow the pickup truck due to the risks involved. However, the truck continued and hit a motorcycle, driven by a 57 year old man from Riverside, California, who was killed in this San Bernardino motorcycle accident.

The assailant, described as a 5’6″ Hispanic male, approximately 25 years old, with average build and a shaved head, fled the scene on foot, and was not caught by police.

It will have to be determined if there was more that police could have done to prevent this tragic San Bernardino wrongful death accident. In the past, we have discussed how high speed chases, of non-violent offenders, have resulted in very serious and catastrophic injuries to innocent bystanders. If at all possible, when police see a car acting erratically to evade them, a helicopter should be called in to watch overhead until the suspect stops, rather than exposing the public to this risk of harm.

New Years Car Crash Deaths Caused by Drunk Driver Fleeing Police

January 4, 2011 | by Robert Walch

In a tragic New Years Day Los Angeles car accident, two people were killed when their vehicle was hit by a drunk driver fleeing the police. Demetria Dorsey, and her husband, Kelvin Dorsey, were in their Infiniti, traveling South on Crenshaw, when they were struck by a Geo Prism, driven by Jorge Alberto Molina.

Molina, from Culver City, had allegedly sped through multiple red lights before colliding with the Dorsey’s Infiniti, causing the Infiniti to roll and hit a pole, killing both of its occupants. The Dorseys were driving home from a New Years party. Mr. Molina then fled on foot before collapsing and being arrested. Mr. Molina has been booked on two counts of murder and is being held on $1 million bail. The Los Angeles Police Department has said that Mr. Molina was driving while under the influence and that it was unclear if he knew that the police were chasing with him at the time of the Los Angeles auto collision.

Unfortunately, we see time and again innocent commuters or pedestrians in Los Angeles who are killed by drivers as a result of high speed pursuits. Here, Mr. Molina faces a Los Angeles wrongful death claim against him. We have previously proposed a re-thinking on when police should engage such pursuits, as the ends oftentimes do not justify the means. This allegedly drunk driver may have caused worse damage had he not been pursued, but more likely than not it was the LAPD vehicles which caused him to travel at high speeds and cause this collision. If the police had simply taken down his plates and watched with a helicopter overhead, without pursuing at high speeds on the ground, this tragedy might have been avoided.

Update: Woman Killed by Car in Los Angeles Hit and Run Identified

December 31, 2010 | by Robert Walch

In an update of our California Personal Injury Lawyers Blog entry of December 29, 2010, the woman who was killed in the Los Angeles hit and run accident has been identified as Brigitte Burdine.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Burdine, who was 48, was a well known video game casting director, who worked on games such as “World of Warcraft” and “Socom 3: U.S. Navy Seals.”

The Los Angeles Police Department has said that the car that struck Burdine was a dark sedan, which allegedly left the scene after the collision. The driver of the sedan has not yet been located. Unfortunately, there is currently no description of the driver available.

The LAPD is investigating the Los Angeles pedestrian collision and notes that the car may have front end damage.

If the driver of the vehicle that killed Brigitte Burdine is located, it must be proven that the driver was responsible for the hit and run collision before his/her insurance company will pay for the Los Angeles wrongful death damages to Burdine’s family, if there was a valid liability insurance policy in effect.

Woman Killed in Los Angeles Hit and Run Accident

December 29, 2010 | by Robert Walch

At about 2:00 a.m. this morning, a woman was killed when she was hit by a car in Los Angeles, California. The accident happened in Marina del Rey and, according to the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Police Department is currently looking for the driver of the car that hit the woman, as it apparently left the scene of the accident in this Los Angeles hit and run case.

The woman, whose name has not been released, was crossing the street at Culver and Jefferson in Marina del Rey, when she was struck by the vehicle. She was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.

We hope that the driver of the hit and run vehicle is brought to justice as soon as possible. If you ever witness a Los Angeles hit and run accident, it is very important to try to write down the license plate number and any other information about the driver and car that is leaving the scene. Next, you should call 911 to report the incident so that police can locate the hit and run driver. If it is safe to do so, we have seen witnesses who have followed the hit and run driver, while talking to 911 operators and providing the location of the car, so that the police can catch the responsible driver.

If you have been injured in a Los Angeles hit and run collision, there are important things to know, such as the fact you may have a claim with your own insurance company, under the uninsured motorist coverage, if you have it. If you do have such a claim, your own insurance takes the place of the responsible party, so that you can get compensated for your damages.

North Hollywood Drunk Driving Accident Injures 2

December 27, 2010 | by Robert Walch

In what could have been a much worse disaster, two people survived a head on collision from a North Hollywood man driving on the wrong side of the road. Ezekial Rodriguez was allegedly driving on the wrong side of the road when he caused a drunk driving accident in North Hollywood. The drunk driving collision happened on San Fernando Boulevard, under the I-5 freeway.

Mr. Rodriguez was taken into custody by Burbank police after he fled the scene of the North Hollywood car accident to a nearby McDonald’s. He was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, contributing to an injury collision and fleeing the scene. Mr. Rodriguez is being held on $10,000 bail.

The victims, a driver and passenger of a Toyota Corolla, whose names have not yet been released, had to be extricated from their car by Burbank firefighters responding to the North Hollywood auto accident. Their vehicle was demolished by the drunk driver and will be considered a total loss. We can only hope that the injuries to these innocent commuters are not life threatening or permanent.

Pedestrian Killed Crossing Street in Los Angeles

December 20, 2010 | by Robert Walch

A Lawndale, California resident, Maria Castaneda Núñez, was killed Saturday when she was struck by a vehicle, and possibly hit by a bus, in a Los Angeles pedestrian accident.

According to the driver, after his pickup truck collided with the victim, a Metro bus struck her as well. According to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (who frequently deny claims made against them), it is unclear if a Metro bus was involved in this Los Angeles pedestrian collision. The MTA said it inspected five buses that could have been in the area and sent the video footage from their cameras to the police.

Los Angeles Hit and Run Accident Advice and Compensation

November 12, 2010 | by Robert Walch

Being involved in a car accident in Los Angeles can be a very traumatic experience. You will most likely feel very shaken and scared. These feelings can be compounded if the responsible party leaves the scene of the collision without identifying himself or herself. If you find yourself the victim of a hit and run accident, there are a few simple things you should know to help protect your rights and get compensation for your hit and run injuries.

First, and before a hit and run collision occurs, you should be sure you have Uninsured Motorist (often referred to as UM) coverage on your insurance policy. This coverage will take the place of the responsible party’s coverage and you can seek compensation through your own insurance company without any detriment to you.

Second, after this collision occurs, if you are physically able to, you should do your best to write down the other vehicle’s license plate number and a description of the vehicle and driver. The police (or our law office) can use this information to find out who the owner of the car was at the time of the collision.

Next, if you have a cell phone, call 911 and give the 911 operator as much detail about the other car and person as you can. If you need an ambulance, make sure to tell the 911 operator. If you are able to get a picture of the hit and run vehicle before it is gone, and only if it can be done safely, you should attempt to do so.

If there are any witnesses, be sure to write down all of their information, including name, address and all of their telephone numbers and email addresses. Also, ask if any of the witnesses were able to get a license plate number or any other description of the car or person that hit you.

Afterwards, the accident should be promptly reported to your insurance company. It may be best to have an attorney do this for you or at least advise you how to do this, including things you should not say. Things you should not say to your insurer can be very important! Our office can provide this valuable assistance for you.

Doing each of these things, including having the right insurance coverage to begin with, should help you get the compensation and justice that you deserve. You should be sure you have UM coverage now and always review your insurance coverage with your insurance agent or attorney at least yearly. We offer this service to our clients.