In 2013, Damian Kevitt was riding his bicycle in Los Angeles when he was struck by a mini-van and dragged for half a mile. As a result of his injuries, Kevitt lost his left leg and suffered more than 20 broken bones. The driver of the mini-van was never identified.
One year later, Kevitt participated in Finish the Ride, a charity event raising money for the Challenged Athletes Fund, seeking to raise awareness about bicycle safety and hit-and-run accidents. Over a thousand bicyclists are injured every year in hit-and-run accidents. On average, 16 bicyclists are killed each year by hit-and-run drivers.
Due to Kevitt’s story, and other stories like his, a new law has been proposed by a California assemblyman that would suspend the driver’s license of anyone convicted of a hit-and-run crime, even if no one was injured in the crash.
Bicycle safety and driver awareness is necessary in California due to the ubiquity of bicycles in the state. Both drivers and bicyclists should always be aware of their surroundings and follow all the rules of the road. Even in hit-and-run car vs. bicycle accidents, hundreds of injured bicyclists are at fault every year.
The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker would like to remind everyone that hit-and-run is a crime. Never, under any circumstances, should anyone ever leave the scene of an accident. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, contact the bicycle accident attorneys at The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker today at (800) 333-0000 for a free consultation.
