It’s Official: Los Angeles is Facing a Hit-and-Run Epidemic

NBC Los Angeles’s I-Team uncovered startling statistics about hit-and-run collisions in the city, which show without a doubt that this is in fact an epidemic in Los Angeles. According to the report, a hit-and-run crash occurs about once every 18 minutes in Los Angeles. The I-Team examined data reported to the California Highway Patrol on all hit-and-run cases in Los Angeles County for 2015. More than 28,000 hit-and-run crashes were reported in 2015 over a widespread area of Los Angeles County. Here’s another alarming statistic: 50 percent of all incidents in Los Angeles County are hit-and-run cases.

High Numbers

The national average for hit-and-run collisions is 11 percent, according to AAA. Police say there is no rhyme or reason behind these high numbers. A lot of hit-and-run cases don’t involve injuries. They often just involve a driver striking a parked vehicle and leaving the scene. However, we often see a number of hit-and-run cases where severely injured or fatally injured victims are left behind. Families of severely injured victims are left grappling for ways to pay their loved one’s medical expenses while families of deceased victims have no closure and have no one to hold accountable.

Holding Drivers Accountable

Solving hit-and-run cases and holding these drivers accountable has been a significant challenge for police. Our personal injury law firm started a Hit-and-Run Reward Program several years before the city of Los Angeles started offering reward money for information about hit-and-run drivers. The Bisnar Chase program offers a $1,000 reward for anonymous tips leading to the arrest and felony conviction of hit-and-run drivers.

Leaving the scene of an injury or fatal car accident is not only an inhumane and irresponsible act, but it is also illegal. California law requires all motorists to stop, remain at the scene, wait for authorities to arrive, exchange pertinent information with other parties and most importantly, render aid to the injured.

As personal injury lawyers, we are committed to doing our part by joining hands with law enforcement and the community to help put an end to this hit-and-run epidemic that is afflicting our region, and to hold hit-and-run drivers accountable.