A man in his 30s has been seriously injured in a Los Angeles car accident after he was struck by a vehicle while crossing the street at a Van Nuys intersection. According to an ABC News report, the major injury pedestrian accident occurred the night of April 17, 2010 at the intersection of Victory Boulevard and Willis Avenue. The driver was going east on Victory when he struck the pedestrian. A Los Angeles police officer who was in the area immediately responded to the scene and found the victim seriously injured and lying on the roadway. The driver had left the scene.

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Driver Leaves the Injured Victim on the Roadway

Los Angeles police say that based on the skid marks from the car's tires they can tell that the driver slowed briefly and then accelerated east on Victory. The pedestrian was taken to a local hospital with major injuries. Police describe the suspect vehicle as a late model Nissan Xterra, either white or gray in color. Anyone with information about thishit-and-run collision is asked to call 1-877-LAPD-24-7.

My heart goes out to this injured pedestrian and his family for what they are going through at this time. I sincerely hope the man has not sustained any catastrophic injuries and pray that he makes a quick and complete recovery. I trust that police will soon apprehend this hit-and-run driver and bring him or her to justice.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

There were 104 deaths and 2,716 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Los Angeles in 2008, according to California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In Los Angeles County as a whole, pedestrian accidents claimed 214 lives and caused 4,985 injuries during the same year.

Laws and Liability Issues

Leaving the scene of an accident or hit-and-run is a serious crime in California. According to California Vehicle Code section 20001: "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."

In such cases, injured victims or their families would be well-advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that the victims' legal rights and best interests are protected. A skilled car accident lawyer will also be able to determine whether a dangerous condition on the roadway may have caused the accident. If that was the case, the governmental entity responsible for maintaining that roadway could also be held liable. Under California Government Code section 911.2, any claim against a governmental agency must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury.

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.