Hit-and-run collisions are the worst kind of accidents because tracking down the person who caused the wreck can be next to impossible. When the at-fault driver cannot be found, injured victims are often left without much legal recourse—after all, you cannot sue someone when you don’t know who they are.
The city of Los Angeles is attempting to crack down on the number of hit-and-runs in the city by creating a city and county-wide alert system, much like the one used for Amber alerts or silver alerts.
The city sees over 20,000 hit-and-run accidents every year. While most are only property damage cases, 27 people were killed in hit-and-runs last year and hundreds more were injured. The LAPD has a difficult time solving these cases, estimating that only one in five hit-and-run drivers are ever caught, and only half of those cases resulted in an arrest.
In response to the problem, City Hall announced that it would be taking steps to publicize the make, model, year and license plate number of any vehicles known to have committed a hit-and-run.
The alert system will post this information on the Facebook and Twitter pages of the LAPD, and will also be broadcast through Nixle, a website where government agencies share similar information. In addition, the information will be sent to DASH bus drivers as well as all licensed taxi drivers.
City Hall is also creating a reward system for information that leads to the arrest of a hit-and-run driver. The rewards will range from $1,000 for a property damage case to $50,000 for an accident where someone was killed. City officials are hoping that the alert system in conjunction with the rewards will entice friends, family, or neighbors to turn in a hit-and-run driver.
State representatives are also pushing for the information to be broadcast on the message boards which feature the Amber alert and silver alert messages. However, the governor has previously vetoed this bill, worried that the additional information would swamp the existing technology.
Leaving the scene of an accident is not only a crime, but it prevents injured people from receiving the help they need to recover both physically and financially. While it can be difficult to track down a hit-and-run driver, it is not impossible, and the additional alerts and rewards may help many injured Californians seek justice.
If you were injured in a hit-and-run accident or other type of collision, the experienced staff of legal and medical professionals at the Trial Law Offices of Bradley I. Kramer, M.D., Esq., can evaluate your case and help you understand your rights.
If you would like to speak with a knowledgeable Los Angeles injury attorney, contact Bradley I. Kramer today by calling (310) 289-2600 or use our online case evaluation form to have your claim reviewed for free.