Teenager Struggles to Recover from Hit-and-Run Injuries

In an instant, life turned upside-down for a 14-year-old boy and his family when a hit-and-run driver in a stolen car careened into him.

Los Angeles Police Department officers say that the car, a Kia sedan, was taken by four suspects from downtown Los Angeles the same day, and was fleeing from the area when it fishtailed into oncoming traffic and hit the boy in the tragic hit and run accident. He flew off of his bike and landed on a curb some distance away, without anyone inside of the vehicle getting out to help.

After the crash, the suspects, all believed to be in their late-teens or early-20s, can be seen bailing from the car on foot and running from the area via surveillance footage in the 3200 block of 32nd Street.

The family’s kitchen became the boy’s new bedroom, since it’s the only room in their house large enough to accommodate the wheelchair-bound teen. As a result, they cook all their meals outdoors.

“It’s sad, cause sometimes I want to go back to normal,” the victim said. “I don’t like it like this.”

Bicycle Crash Injuries

Suggested: Bicycle Crash Injuries And Associated Medical Bills

The serious injuries this boy suffered are very common in bicycle crashes. Unfortunately for this victim and his family, the high medical bills are just beginning to come in. The categories of medical bills include:

• Transportation: A short emergency ride to a hospital in an ambulance could cost several thousand dollars. A short medevac helicopter ride could easily cost ten times as much. Insurance adjusters often nitpick these costs, setting the tone for more disputes later.
• Emergency Care: Multiple serious injuries usually require multiple complicated surgical procedures. Hospital costs average over $4,000 a day in California. These costs quickly add up.
• Follow-Up Care: Intensive surgeries mean intensive recovery periods. Doctors must keep close tabs on these victims to ensure that their recoveries stay on track. These visits, along with the drugs and medical devices these doctors prescribe, aren’t cheap.
• Physical Therapy: After such a long period of inaction, physical therapy is very challenging in these situations. That’s especially true if the victim sustained a head injury.

All these medical bills could cost as much as $100,000. To ease the financial pressure that these families endure, a hit and run attorney in California connects victims with doctors who charge nothing upfront for their professional services.

Legal Options in Hit-and-Run Cases

Suggested: Hit-and-run Accidents in California & Your Best Legal Options

These bills must be paid eventually, and obtaining compensation in a hit and run case in Los Angeles, CA, isn’t easy, especially if the tortfeasor (negligent driver) was driving a stolen vehicle. If that’s the case, a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer’s go-to strategy, which is tracking down the vehicle’s owner, is unavailable.

Usually, someone saw something. A witness might have seen where one of the people in the Kia went or who picked up that individual.

Additionally, the responsible party might not have been behind the wheel. In February 2023, Kia and Hyundai updated anti-theft software in response to widespread vehicle thefts. Therefore, the vehicle’s manufacturer could be legally responsible for foreseeable theft-related injuries. That category could include a hit-and-run accident.

PIP (Personal Injury Protection) claims are often an effective fallback in hit-and-run cases. PIP policies usually compensate policyholders if the tortfeasor was underinsured, uninsured, or MIA. These policy add-ons are optional in California.

How a Hit-and-Run Lawyer Can Help You Recover?

In the aftermath of a hit-and-run accident, victims and their families can face significant challenges—physically, emotionally, and financially. If you or a loved one have been involved in a hit-and-run, it’s essential to consult with an experienced hit-and-run attorney to understand your legal options and secure the compensation you deserve

A California hit-and-run lawyer can help navigate the complexities of your case, whether it involves tracking down the responsible party, seeking compensation from insurance, or pursuing legal action against the vehicle’s manufacturer.

Contact us today for a free consultation. We work on a no-win, no-fee basis, so you don’t pay unless we win your case.