Virginia Meza Died In South Los Angeles Hit-And-Run Tow Truck Accident By The Intersection of St Andrew’s Place and 48th Street near Vermont Square
SOUTH LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (August 8, 2022) – A 68-year-old woman identified as Virginia Meza died in a Los Angeles hit-and-run tow truck accident by St Andrew’s Place and 48th Street.
Los Angeles County police officials are saying that the accident took place around 8:00 p.m. on Saturday. Virginia Meza was walking to get something from her car when she was struck by an oncoming tow truck that fled the scene.
The force of the impact pinned the victim to the door of her Toyota Corolla before she fell to the ground. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim.
Virginia Meza was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Sadly, she died due to the severity of her injuries after undergoing surgery. Police are still searching for the tow truck driver involved in the crash.
One witness said that the tow truck driver was speeding down the residential street prior to the collision. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability In South Los Angeles Tow Truck Accidents
Los Angeles County has one of the highest instances of hit-and-run collisions. Sadly, many hit-and-run drivers are never caught by the police. According to LA Curbed, “There were more than 100,000 hit-and-run cases in the city of Los Angeles from 2014 to 2018. Of those, 23,698 were felony hit-and-run cases, meaning that someone was hurt in the crash. Fewer than 16,000 drivers were arrested in that four-year time span, and only 715 of them on suspicion of felony crimes.” There are a number of factors that often contribute to pedestrian collisions.
- Nearly a third of fatal pedestrian accidents involve an intoxicated driver.
- Speeding remains one of the leading causes of pedestrian accidents in the United States.
- Pedestrian accidents are more likely to occur along streets that are dimly lit.
Tow truck drivers must exercise due care in order to avoid hitting pedestrians or causing accidents. This includes traveling at a safe speed and yielding the right of way to any pedestrian crossing in a lawfully marked crosswalk. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 22350, no person shall travel at a speed greater than what would be reasonable or safe given the prevailing conditions of the roadway. California courts have held that a violation of the basic speed statute is “negligence per se” under California law.
If a driver is involved in a collision, they must stop at the scene and share insurance information with all affected parties. They must also call the police and report the collision. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 20002, it is a crime to flee the scene of any collision resulting in bodily injury or death. When a driver flees the scene of a collision, they are left open to civil and criminal liability for their actions.
Liability for a hit-and-run collision could extend beyond an at fault driver. If a truck driver hit a pedestrian, their employer could be liable for the crash. Generally speaking, companies are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. For example, a tow truck driver may have been on their way to tow a vehicle. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any hit-and-run collision.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Fragments of the fleeing vehicle should be sought.
- It should be determined if the crash was captured by surveillance cameras.
- A thorough, independent investigation should be conducted.
The family of any person that is killed due to the negligence of a tow truck driver may have legal recourse through a wrongful death claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and funeral expenses. In order to win any civil claim, plaintiffs will have to demonstrate negligence. Sadly, though, tow truck companies will often fight hard to deny responsibility for any collision involving their driver. It is extremely important that evidence is properly preserved and protected after any hit-and-run collision.
Investigating A South Los Angeles Hit-And-Run Collision
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of Virginia Meza. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. The person responsible for this collision should do the right thing and turn themselves in to the police. It is never too late to do the right thing.
Do you need more information about a South Los Angeles hit-and-run collision? There are a number of laws designed to help you. Our team of pedestrian safety advocates are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that hit-and-run drivers are caught and that accident victims get the support they are entitled to. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into an accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991. Se habla español.
