Northern California Accident Attorney Blog

A 3-year-old boy died Tuesday night after he was struck by an SUV at a Madera intersection, CBS 47 reported. The 3-year-old boy, who wasn't identified, was walking ahead of his siblings and cousins when he was struck by a SUV heading westbound on Olive Avenue near the intersection of Olive and Martin Avenue, just off Highway 99. Madera Police said the little boy and his family members were in the crosswalk when the accident occurred. The little boy was taken to Madera Community Hospital following the crash, where he died.

The driver was described as a light skinned female in her 20's, possibly Hispanic. Her vehicle was described with a late model silver or gray Saturn SUV. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Sgt. Dino Lawson at (559) 675-4212. For the sake of the victim's family, we hope that the driver involved in this crash turns herself in to law enforcement or is located as soon as possible.

Hit-and-Run Accidents and Wrongful Death Liability

The death of a young child in a preventable accident is something no parent should ever be forced to experience or witness. The fact that a young woman did not stop following this accident is shocking and troubling. Because the driver stopped briefly following the accident, it is evident that she knew that she had struck the young boy. There is no excuse for the driver of the vehicle not remaining at the scene of the crash. Under California Vehicle Code Section 20001, "The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to any person, other than himself or herself, or in the death of any person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident."

In situations such as this one, the family members of the young victim killed would be well-advised to contact a northern California hit and run accident lawyer about the accident, the efforts to locate the driver, and the liability issues involved. In the event the driver is located, an attorney may be able to help the family pursue compensation for their loss in a wrongful death claim against the at-fault driver. In the event that the driver is not located, an attorney may be able to help the family recover compensation for their loss from their own insurance policy, if they had one.