A hit-and-run driver struck and killed a pedestrian in central Los Angeles in the Westlake neighborhood. FOX11-TV reported the tragic accident occurred Monday evening on January 23, 2023.
The Los Angeles Police Department responded to the call at around 7:30 p.m. near the intersection of West 6th Street and South Bonnie Brae Street. They determined that a man believed to be in his 20s was struck by a driver near a taco stand. The victim was killed in the collision.
LAPD Officers say the driver involved fled the scene. They continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident. At last word, investigators had not released a description of the vehicle or the driver involved. If you know anything about this tragic accident, please call the LAPD.
Pedestrian Accident Dangers in Los Angeles
Coming upon a busy foot-traffic spot in Los Angeles means that drivers must pay even more attention to the road and slow down at the first sight of a pedestrian. Under California Law, those on foot are owed a special “duty of care” from drivers due to their extreme vulnerability in a collision with a vehicle.
This is a legal responsibility that can make Los Angeles motorists fully liable for the consequences of a pedestrian impact. That responsibility is often enforced even if a pedestrian wasn’t in a crosswalk. In many cases, the injured victim or the victim’s family would be empowered to file an accident claim against the at-fault driver’s car insurance provider.
Sadly, if an accident involves a hit-and-run driver who remains unidentified, families may be left to face medical bills and even funeral costs on their own. Fortunately, victims and families can file a claim against the victim’s own insurance provider using the policy’s uninsured motorist coverage. If pedestrians don’t have car insurance, it’s possible they are covered by a family member’s policy. It’s important to check every possibility at such a difficult time.
Too many victims and their families face these questions in Los Angeles each year. California’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) recorded 1,520 pedestrian accidents involving injury in Los Angeles in 2021. Tragically, 751 of those accidents were listed as involving a felony hit-and-run driver.
A word for families after tragic Los Angeles pedestrian collisions…
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a hit-and-run accident in Los Angeles, you should be aware of the benefits available to you and your family through an insurance claim. Financial support is often available to victims and families even when a hit-and-run suspect escapes justice.
You can read more about these cases on my page about tragic pedestrian accidents in Los Angeles.
