California Personal Injury Lawyers Blog
A young father, Andy Welch, was seriously injured in a hit-and-run accident in Rialto. The accident occurred while Andy was riding his bike towards Rosa’s Market on Bohnert Avenue to get something to eat. The vehicle struck Andy and then fled the scene without stopping to help.
According to ABC 7 News, Andy remained in the street for over a half hour, while other vehicles passed him by. He was severely injured, but conscious, and was eventually able to reach his cellphone and call his family for help. He was taken to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center for surgery to repair intestines that were ruptured in the accident. He was then put into a medically induced coma. While originally Andy took a turn for the worse, he is now stable and breathing on his own, though he remains in the coma.
Sadly, far too often when a pedestrian or cyclist collision occurs, drivers think it is better to flee the scene rather than stay and face liability. However, this is not a good idea and leaving the scene of an accident can result in both a civil offense and criminal charges.
If you or someone you love is involved in a hit and run accident, you should immediately call the police and emergency personnel. Police officers will be able to begin an investigation straightaway and check the scene for possible witnesses or video footage. This can be extremely helpful in locating the vehicle that caused the accident. Emergency personnel can help you get medical help immediately. Most often times pedestrian or cyclist hit-and-run accidents result in very serious injuries, as the pedestrian or cyclist has little protection against the force of a vehicle. Even if an injury does not seem serious, it is important to get examined as delaying medical attention can make injuries worse. Next, you will need to report the accident to your insurance company right away. We suggest you call our office, Walch Law, as soon as you can as our personal injury attorneys can guide you through this process and help with the investigation.
If the driver of the car is found, the victim of a bicycle hit-and-run accident can bring a personal injury claim against the driver. In Andy’s case, the driver (or their insurance if they have insurance) would be responsible for covering the costs of his extensive medical bills, among other possible damages. In a hit-and-run situation, a victim can still file a personal injury claim in addition to any criminal charges the driver is facing—criminal charges are separate and will not take away a victim’s ability to file a civil claim to receive the compensation they deserve. If the other driver of the vehicle is never located, we can still work to obtain compensation for your injuries and damages if there is an applicable uninsured motorist coverage available.
At Walch Law we have handled countless hit-and-run cases in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California for over 45 years. We know how to obtain the best results possible for our injured clients, and your first consultation is always free.
We wish a speedy recovery to Andy and hope he and his family can get the justice they deserve.