16-Year-Old Nathaniel Mota Killed By Hit-and-Run Driver While Walking in South Los Angeles Crosswalk

On Friday September 13, 2013, 16-year-old Nathaniel Mota was walking across the street from church to meet up with his family when an unidentified driver struck him.  The driver of a white Nissan Maxima immediately fled the scene after striking Mr. Mota.  The incident occurred at the intersection of Normandy Avenue and 42nd Street in South Los Angeles.  

According to Los Angeles Police Department Officials, Nathaniel Mota was lawfully within a marked crosswalk at the time of the collision. The at-fault driver sped off north towards 42nd street after the collision.  Witnesses with any information are urged to contact the Los Angeles Police Department immediately.

Nathaniel Mota was an avid churchgoer who worked as an usher at St. Cecelia Catholic Church (Iglesia Catolica Santa Cecilia).  Friends and family remember him as a caring and loving young man who had a bright future ahead of him.  At Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP our thoughts and prayers are with the Mota family in their time of grief.  The wrongful death of a loved one is a terribly tragedy that no family should be forced to endure. 

The specific crosswalk where this tragic accident occurred has been a concern for the St. Cecelia Church community for years.  Many churchgoers and community members have repeatedly expressed concerns that the crosswalk lacked proper markers, lighting and signage.  Saint Cecelia Pastor Jorge Ochoa has indicated that he had previously urged authorities to install signs and lights to make the crosswalk safer. 

Tragically, unsafe intersections frequently lead to fatal and severe pedestrian accidents.  Many factors can contribute to make an intersection unsafe.  For example, an unsafe intersection may lack adequate signage, be designed improperly or have improper phasing of traffic signals. 

Accidents that result from unsafe intersections usually require the filing of a claim against the state or municipal entity that is responsible for designing and/or maintaining the intersection.  There are strict deadlines and procedural requirements that must be followed when pursuing a claim against a public entity.  Accordingly, it is imperative that pedestrian accident victims and their families immediately contact an experienced pedestrian accident attorney to help protect their rights.   

If you or a loved one have experienced a pedestrian accident contact the dedicated legal team at Matiaisc Roth & Johnson LLP today.  We specialize in fighting for the rights of pedestrian accident victims in Southern California and throughout the State.  Call our office today for a free consultation and case evaluation.  

Bicyclist Phillip Jordan O'Neill Killed by Motorist in Pasadena

A tragic bicycle accident claimed the life of a 25-year-old Los Angeles man on June 15, 2013.  Phillip Jordan O’Neill was riding his bike near the California Institute of Technology campus on the 1100 block of East Del Mar Boulevard, between Wilson and Michigan Avenues in Pasadena, California, when he was hit by a vehicle from behind.  Following the accident, Mr. O’Neill was rushed to Huntington Memorial Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

The type of vehicle involved in the incident has not been released, but has been described in several published reports as a compact car.  No arrests have been made in connection with the accident yet, but that could change upon further police investigation.

At Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP our thoughts and sympathy are with the O’Neill family in their time of grief.  Losing a loved one in a bicycle accident is a tragedy that no family should have to endure.

This terrible and preventable accident is reportedly the 33^rd bicycle accident fatality in Southern California in the past six months.  Unfortunately, the frighteningly high number of fatalities is not uncommon in the Southern California area, or in many other similar biking communities. 

In California, bicyclists and pedestrian far too often become the victims of negligent or inattentive drivers.  Drivers have a duty to be attentive on the roadway in order to ensure the safety of cyclists and pedestrians.  If a driver is found to have been operating their vehicle inattentively, they will be held liable for their negligent driving and will owe compensation to the victim or their family.

At Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP, our bicycle accident attorneys have decades of experience investigating bicycle accidents and have consistently obtained compensation for accident victims and their loved ones.  If you have lost a loved one because of a negligent or inattentive driver, call Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP today for your free consultation and case evaluation.