Benjamin Zelman, 22, was critically injured in a car accident in Los Angeles which occurred at the intersection of La Cienega Boulevard and Melrose Place. According to news reports in Weho.com and NBC's website, Zelman, an on-the-job valet at the Koi Restaurant in West Hollywood, was parking cars for customers the night of May 19, 2010, when he was run over by a Volkswagen car. The driver of the VW fled, leaving Zelman lying in the middle of La Cienega Boulevard. He was rushed to a local hospital where he remains in a coma.

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Police describe the suspect vehicle as a yellow, VW bug convertible with a black top and front-end damage. Anyone with information about the vehicle or its driver is requested to call Officer Hutchings at 213-473-0234 or email him directly at 32091@lapd.lacity.org. Or you can visit our website at www.hitandrunreward.com. A $10,000 reward is now being offered for information that results in the conviction of the hit-and-run driver.

My heart goes out to Zelman's family for what they are going through right now. Not only are they left with an injured family member to care for, but are also left wondering who did this to their loved one and if that person will be held accountable for his or her actions. I wish Zelman the very best for a complete recovery from his critical injuries. He and his family will certainly be in my prayers.

Hit-and-Run Statistics

According to the California Highway Patrol's traffic accident statistics, there were 17,158 hit-and-run collisions that resulted in fatalities or injuries in California, in 2008. A majority of these car accidents involved injuries. A total of 247 deaths occurred that year involving hit-and-run accidents in California.

Leaving the Scene of an Accident

Any motorist who is involved in an accident is required under the law to remain at the scene of the accident, administer aid to the injured victim and exchange important information with the other parties involved in an accident. California Vehicle Code 20001 (a) states: "The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person, other than himself or herself, or in the death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident." I truly hope the individual responsible for causing the serious injuries to Zelman, will soon be apprehended and brought to justice.

Compensation and Liability Issues

Families of critically injured victims in these types of accidents would be well-advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all aspects of the accident, stay abreast of the investigation and also look into other factors such as dangerous conditions, which may have caused or contributed to the collision. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer will also advise families about how their car insurance policy might apply to an accident involving a hit-and-run driver or in a case where the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured. In this case, Zelman could also be entitled to receive workers compensation benefits because he was on the job at the time of the collision.

What infuriates you the most about hit-and-run drivers? Please share your thoughts with us.

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.