Pickup Hits Long Beach Home in Hit-and-Run; Father & 3-Year-Old Tragically Killed

Mar 2, 2022

A 42-year-old father and 3-year-old child were tragically killed after a pickup truck crashed through the bedroom wall of their Long Beach home in what NBC 4 reported was a hit-and-run collision.

Long Beach Father and 3-Year-Old Child Killed in Tragic Hit-and-Run Crash

• How Often Do California Hit-and-Run Car Accidents Happen?
• Why Do Drivers Hit-and-Run After Car Accidents?
• Can I Sue After a California Hit-and-Run Car Accident Injury?
• What Damages Can be Awarded in a California Hit-and-Run Car Accident?
• Common California Hit-and-Run Car Accident Economic Damages
• Common California Hit-and-Run Car Accident Non-Economic Damages
• Contact a Los Angeles, California, Hit-and-Run Car Accident Lawyer

The fatal hit-and-run car accident occurred at approximately 10 p.m. Tuesday. NBC 4 reported that a preliminary investigation by Long Beach Police determined that the 2014 Dodge pickup truck was traveling at a high rate of speed, northbound on Rose Avenue near Artesia Boulevard, when it careened off the road and into the building.

NBC 4 reported that the force of the hit-and-run collision caused the pickup truck to actually crash through the wall and into the bedroom. The 3-year-old girl was reportedly inside the bedroom when the crash occurred. After the pickup truck slammed through the wall, the toddler was reportedly stuck underneath the vehicle.

A family of four reportedly lived in the home. The mother and the toddler’s 9-year-old brother were not injured in the hit-and-run accident.

Law enforcement officials are reportedly searching for the hit-and-run driver who fled the scene on foot. The suspect is described as a man between 20 and 25 years old.

Long Beach Local News reported that police officers and Good Samaritans rendered aid to the victims until the Long Beach Fire Department arrived. The male adult victim was pronounced dead at the scene, and the female child victim was transported to a local hospital where she succumbed to her injuries Wednesday morning.

The identities of the victims are being withheld pending notification of the next of kin by The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.

As the hit-and-run suspect is still at large, anyone with information regarding the tragic incident is urged to call Long Beach Police Department Collision Investigation Detail Detective Kevin Johansen or Detective Jeff Meyer via 562-570-7355.

Those who wish to remain anonymous may submit information and tips through LA Crime Stoppers via:

• 1-800-222-TIPS (8447)
• Downloading the “P3 TIPS” app to your smartphone (available at the Apple App Store and Google Play)
• Visiting www.LACrimeStoppers.org

How Often Do California Hit-and-Run Car Accidents Happen?

Hit-and-run car accidents are unfortunately a common occurrence here in the Golden State. According to data compiled by ValuePenguin.com, hit-and-run collisions killed 17,531 people in the last decade, with California accounting for the most fatalities among all states.

Between 2010 and 2019, California experienced the largest share of fatal hit-and-runs, with 17% of the U.S. total.

California recorded the following number of fatal hit-and-run car accidents over that particular decade:

• 2,948 overall hit-and-run car crashes
• 3,056 deaths as a result of those hit-and-run car accidents

ValuePenguin also confirmed the following hit-and-run car accident statistics:

• The number of deaths from hit-and-runs was highest among 25 to 34-year-old drivers.
• 22% of the drivers killed in hit-and-runs belonged to this demographic.
• 45 to 54-year-olds were the next highest hit-and-run demographic at 18%.
• 35 to 44-year-olds were the third highest hit-and-run demographic at 16%.
• From 2010 to 2019, nine drivers 15 and younger were killed in hit-and-runs.

Furthermore, a particularly troubling statistic was found in the ValuePenguin report:

• In the last decade, the number of fatal hit-and-runs increased by 44%.

Some additional hit-and-run car accident statistics for 2022 (*from a published 2021 report):

• Hit-and-runs rose every year from 2010 to 2016 before falling by 3% in 2017.
• In total, there were 16,936 fatal hit-and-runs over the decade.
• On average, this amounts to 33 crashes per state per year (though the number of hit-and-runs varies depending on the state).
• For fatalities, the most-deadly year was 2016, when 2,082 people were killed.
• 104 people died for every 100 hit-and-run crashes.

Why Do Drivers Hit-and-Run After Car Accidents?

The reasons for committing a California hit-and-run can vary depending on the circumstances of the incident. Some common factors for why drivers hit-and-run or flee the scene of a car accident include:

• Not having up-to-date auto insurance
• Not having a valid driver’s license
• Prior incidents (a bad driving record)
• A criminal record
• Fear of confrontation
• Intoxication
• Fear of punishment for any of the above

Can I Sue After a California Hit-and-Run Car Accident Injury?

As is the case with all car accidents involving negligence, an injured victim has the right to sue the at-fault party for various types of financial damages. However, hit-and-runs are often difficult to prove unless the at-fault driver can be identified. But there are a number of ways that this can be successfully achieved if you’ve been injured in a hit-and run accident.

For example:

• Security video or closed circuit television cameras may have captured the incident.
• Witnesses or bystanders may be able to help identify a suspect.
• Taking pictures or videos immediately after the car crash may help identify a suspect.

Furthermore, Dordulian Law Group (DLG) employs an in-house Chief Investigator, Moses Castillo, a retired Los Angeles Police Department detective with almost 30 years of experience, including time spent in the department’s elite Central Traffic Division. When you bring your hit-and-run car accident injury claim to DLG, we will ensure that Detective Moses conducts a thorough investigation in an effort to identify the suspect.

What Damages Can be Awarded in a California Hit-and-Run Car Accident?

The most common examples of hit-and-run car accident injury damages in civil lawsuits are broken down below according to type.

Common California Hit-and-Run Car Accident Economic Damages:

• Medical expenses
• Emergency department treatment
• Physical Therapy
• Rehabilitation
• Lost Wages
• Lost Earning Capacity

Common California Hit-and-Run Car Accident Non-Economic Damages:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma
• Reduced quality of life
• Scarring or other serious injury
• Compensation for loss of a limb or disfigurement

Hiring a DLG car accident lawyer can help ensure your personal injury claim is maximized, and that you recover all applicable damages after an incident due to negligence. Our Car Accident Division is led by Sam Dordulian, a former Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County with more than 25 years of experience helping injured victims secure the maximum financial compensation they deserve.

To learn more about how important it can be to have an experienced DLG California car accident lawyer handling your case, please visit our recent blog on how pain and suffering damages are calculated in personal injury civil claims.

Contact a Los Angeles, California, Hit-and-Run Car Accident Lawyer

Proving liability in a California hit-and-run car accident case requires skill and experience in order to secure the maximum financial compensation you truly deserve. Fighting to recover intangible and hard to quantify damages such as pain and suffering or emotional trauma can be challenging, and that’s where DLG’s experienced car accident injury lawyers can help.

We have the proven results you need for peace of mind throughout every step of the car accident claims process. We won’t settle for anything less than a maximum financial damages payout for your hit-and-run car accident injury lawsuit.

Hiring a DLG car accident lawyer to handle your injury claim can be in your overall best interest for a number of reasons. In fact, personal injury victims who hire private attorneys often secure greater financial compensation for their claims.

For example, the Insurance Research Council (IRC) recently conducted a study which confirmed the following personal injury claim statistics:

• Settlements for injured claimants were 40% higher when they had secured private legal representation.
• The average insurance payout was 3.5 times higher for injured victims who hired private attorneys (when compared to those representing themselves).
• 85% of all money paid by insurance companies for bodily injuries is received by victims who have secured representation from a private personal injury attorney.

With DLG, your hit-and-run accident injury consultation is always free, confidential, and without any obligation. We’ll review the facts of your case and provide you with all available legal options to ensure your rights are protected and the maximum financial damages award you deserve is pursued. We serve hit-and-run car accident injury clients throughout California as well as the United States.

Some of the local areas DLG serves include:

• Los Angeles
• Long Beach
• Glendale
• Torrance
• North Hollywood
• Burbank
• Pasadena
• San Diego
• Bakersfield
• Sacramento
• Fresno
• Riverside
• San Francisco
• Granada Hills
• Simi Valley
• San Fernando Valley
• Antelope Valley

Get the Best Legal Representation for Your Hit-and-Run Car Accident Injury Claim

DLG’s founder and president, Sam Dordulian, has more than 25 years of experience and over 100 jury trial victories. And our team of dedicated attorneys has expansive experience successfully litigating major car accident cases. We will fight hard to obtain the maximum financial compensation you deserve.

It’s important to file your car accident injury claim as soon as possible. We will work with medical experts and other investigative professionals to gather and preserve crucial evidence that will strengthen your hit-and-run car accident injury claim.

If you experienced a hit and run accident, don’t wait to file a claim. Contact our expert attorneys online or by phone for a free consultation today.

DLG’s Los Angeles hit-and-run car accident lawyers have secured more than $200 million in settlements and verdicts for clients while maintaining a 98% success record. With our No Win/No Fee Guarantee, there is never any upfront cost for our expert car accident legal representation, and you never pay a dime until we successfully secure a maximum financial damages award for your claim.

Contact a DLG Los Angeles, California, car accident lawyer today at 866-GO-SEE-SAM to arrange for a free consultation.

Don’t miss the deadline for filing your hit-and-run car accident injury lawsuit. Injured victims who fail to file claims within the statute of limitations typically waive their right to seek critical financial compensation for damages.