Police in San Francisco are still looking for a hit-and-run driver who struck and seriously injured Andrew Bennett, 42, in a bicycle accident July 4, 2009 as he was riding on a tandem bike with his 4-year-old son, Robby, to the California Academy of Sciences. According to a news report in the San Francisco Examiner, Bennett and his son were riding north on Valencia with Robby on a tandem device attached to his father's bike. The two were struck near 18th Street by a woman driving a silver PT Cruiser who apparently ran a red light, speeding through the intersection and hitting the front wheel of the bike. Bennett hit the side of the car and he, Robby and the bike landed about 20 feet from the middle of the intersection.

Bennett did not hear his son, so he was obviously panicked. He couldn't get up because, as he learned later, he had fractured his spine. Robby miraculously, was almost uninjured except for some cuts and bruises. His bicycle helmet apparently took the impact of the fall and split in two. The driver of the PT Cruiser fled the scene of the collision. Police are asking for the public's help to track down this hit-and-run driver. If you know anything about this incident, please call San Francisco Police at 415-553-1641.

First of all, I'm extremely relieved that the child, Robby, escaped without any injuries in this hit-and-run bike accident. It's indeed a miracle! My heart goes out to the father, Andrew Bennett, who has a long road to recovery given his serious spinal injuries. I wish him the very best for a complete recovery.

I sincerely hope that the driver involved in the car accident is apprehended and brought to justice. Hit-and-run is a serious crime in California. According to California Vehicle Code section 20001 (a): "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." Not only did this driver flee the scene of an accident, but she also ran a red light before she struck Bennett and his son.

This driver should not only be criminally charged, but also be held civilly responsible for the serious injuries caused to Bennett. The injured victim here, Bennett, would be well-advised to contact an experienced California personal injury lawyer who will fight to make sure Bennett gets the justice and compensation he rightfully deserves. A skilled bicycle accident attorney will also be able to determine if Bennett could be compensated through the uninsured/underinsured provision of his auto insurance policy or any other policy under which he has benefits.