Wednesday morning collision at Hooper Avenue and 45th Street
LOS ANGELES, CA, (April 24, 2024) - A police pursuit in South Los Angeles on Wednesday morning resulted in the death of a 46-year-old bicycle rider.
Jose Monsalve Rojas lost his life on Wednesday when his bicycle was struck by a suspect being pursued by LAPD officers.
According to a statement from the Los Angeles Police Department, officers received a call about the theft of a motor vehicle that was being followed by the victim of that theft. When officers attempted a traffic stop, the suspect refused to pull over.
The pursuit ended near Hooper Avenue and 45th Street where the suspect's vehicle crashed into a bicycle, killing the cyclist.
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner's Office later identified the victim as Jose Monsalve Rojas.
After the collision, the suspect attempted to flee on foot but was immediately captured and arrested. That person's identity was not disclosed.
CRASH INVESTIGATION
“It is imperative to come to a determination of the exact cause of these types of accidents. An attorney has the resources to review applicable insurance coverage, hire expert witnesses, run background checks, and locate witnesses. We carefully guide the family of the victim through the process,” said Candice Bond, a managing partner with Bond Legal.
She noted that, in cases such as this, an independent investigation is crucial to preserve evidence.
“In addition to a police report, an attorney will carefully review what may have contributed to the crash,” said Bond. “A lawyer has the resources to hire expert witnesses, conduct drivers’ background checks, locate witnesses to the crash and review applicable insurance coverage. Serving as an advocate, an attorney can help guide an injury victim through what can be a complicated process.”
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
Pending the results of any investigations, the family of Jose Monsalve Rojas may pursue a wrongful death claim. Survivors of wrongful death victims may seek damages for loss of companionship, pain and suffering, and emotional distress following a catastrophic accident such as this.
Stefano Formica, of counsel at Bond Legal, said, “Grieving families of victims are sometimes overwhelmed by the legal processes that are in place to protect their rights. An attorney can be a valuable and compassionate resource to help guide a family during this difficult time and ensure that those left behind receive the restitution they are entitled to.”
If you or a family member have been involved in a situation similar to this article and would like to speak to our national legal analysts Candice Bond or Stefano Formica free of charge, please use the contact information found on this page
(Candice Bond, Managing Partner, and Stefano Formica, Of Counsel, at Bond Legal, are the national legal analysts for The Legal Advocate. The Legal Advocate can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-599-0297 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).