Driver accused in hit-and-run faces felony charge
Car collisions can happen in an instant, without any warning. Here in California, even the most responsible and defensive drivers could be involved in a car accident due to another driver’s negligence. Some of the most common causes of car crashes are driving while impaired, failure to follow the state’s traffic laws and reckless driving. In the event of any sort of car accident, there will likely be a police investigation to determine what happened.
In Los Angeles, California, a 66-year-old woman was recently indicted for a felony offense after she allegedly ran into a pedestrian and fled the scene last December. Based on the report, the victim, a 23-year-old man who was the son of a federal judge, was on his way home on December 27th when he was struck by a car. The pedestrian was taken to the hospital where he died on New Year’s Eve. The accused driver is not the only one facing a criminal charge – her husband, also 66, was charged as an accessory to the crime, after first being thought to have been the driver.
In this case, the driver accused in the fatal hit-and-run crash is facing criminal charges, which may help bring some semblance of justice to the victim’s family if there is a conviction. The family could also potentially seek compensation for the victim’s medical or other expenses. Damages for pain and suffering could also be awarded via a wrongful death lawsuit.
A personal injury claim may be an option for car accident victims who, through no fault of their own, are injured and require potentially extensive medical care. The victim or a victim’s family may seek legal advice to ensure that his or her claim will be handled accordingly.
Source: ABC 7, “Couple charged for death in Pacific Palisades hit-run,” Rudabeh Shahbazi, May 30, 2014