Accidents caused by drivers who leave the scene without stopping or offering aid to victims can be especially tragic for the victims and their families. Not knowing the driver’s identity adds to the family’s sense of anger, and the lack of an identity makes recovering damages from a hit-and-run driver very difficult. A recent car accident in South Los Angeles involving a man on a motorized bicycle and a mid-sized sedan may have a different outcome thanks to a video captured on a surveillance camera.
The man on the motorized bicycle was westbound on 48th Street and was making a left turn onto 9th Avenue. Police said that he was struck by a burgundy red Oldsmobile Cutlass. The driver of the Cutlass left the scene of the accident without stopping or giving assistance, according to police. When police arrived at the scene, the victim was lying in the street. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.
Luckily for law enforcement officials, the entire incident was captured by a nearby surveillance camera. The surveillance video yielded a description of the driver and of the car. In addition to capturing the car’s make and model, the video tape allowed police to estimate the automobile’s year of manufacture.
The involvement of possible criminal conduct in this accident will provide police with a strong incentive to find the driver who left the scene. If the victim or his family in a similar position should decide to commence a lawsuit to recover damages for medical expenses, lost income and pain and suffering, the existence of a video would greatly ease the task of identifying the driver who caused the accident.
Source: NBC Los Angeles, “Caught on Camera: Driver Takes Off After Bicycle Crash,” City News Service, Dec. 28, 2016