Our hearts go out to the family of four-year-old Violeta Khachaturyan, the victim of a fatal hit-and-run accident that occurred early in the evening of Friday, March 6, 2015, in the community of Glendale, near the intersection of Olive Street with Wilson Avenue. The child, at play with her parents, was struck by a vehicle that did not stop to render aid; a day later, the driver, Shant Badleean of Glendale, accompanied by his family, turned himself in at a local police station.
CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT
Witnesses to the accident included Violeta’s parents, as well as neighbors. According to news reports, the child killed in this accident ran into the road, following her mother, who was retrieving a ball. The child’s father tried but was unable to reach her quickly enough to prevent her from being struck by Badleean’s passing car.
However, as a matter of assessing comparative fault, a court will look at the fault of all people involved in a motor vehicle accident. A driver must exercise reasonable care for the safety of others, and in a residential neighborhood where people are out and about, this sometimes means slowing down – even below the speed limit, if prudent under the circumstances.
Here, the child was struck hard enough that she was thrown into and broke the windshield of a parked car, and witnesses described the Badleean vehicle as driving away from the crash with heavy damage to the front. These facts indicate that speed could have been a partial cause of the accident. Because the driver sped away after the accident, an inquiry should also take place to determine whether he was driving under the influence of any substance at the time of this fatal motor vehicle accident.
FATAL INJURIES
Little Violeta was taken immediately to Glendale Adventist Hospital, but it was too late to save her. She had been killed by the impacts of being struck by the Badleean vehicle and striking the parked car. Violeta was pronounced dead at the hospital.
IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION IS CRUCIAL TO RECOVERY
The tragic loss of a child in a motor vehicle accident is an event for which monetary compensation could not possibly be adequate; nevertheless, at some point, this family will need to address the financial consequences of this child’s wrongful death, including her funeral expenses and all the lost potential of her life, like the future earnings she might have used to support her parents as they grew old.
It is absolutely critical that an independent investigation take place immediately into the cause of this hit-and-run death. Physical evidence, like the damaged vehicle, skid marks on the street, and the results of substance testing administered to the driver, must be preserved. Witnesses must be identified and interviewed. Insurance claims must be filed promptly. Though it can be an emotionally-difficult task, the family of the victim of a fatal motor vehicle accident should seek legal assistance as quickly as possible.
GET HELP NOW
our sponsoring law firm has over 35 years of combined legal experience in the investigation and pursuit of wrongful death cases, including deaths caused by hit-and-run accidents. Our caring California accident attorneys will aggressively pursue monetary compensation for the victims of motor vehicle accidents and their survivors. Call our sponsoring attorneys today, at (888) 853-6696, for a free consultation.
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