A hit-and-run accident in Watts on Friday left a father dead and his 7-year-old daughter in a coma.
The car accident happened just before 6 p.m. at the intersection of Santa Ana Blvd. and Watts Ave. in Watts. A family was crossing the street when a white Cadillac Escalade struck 38-year-old Jose Arriola and his 7-year-old daughter Angelica. After striking the pedestrians, the Cadillac driver stopped momentarily, then fled the scene.
The two accident victims were transported to Long Beach Memorial Hospital. The father was declared dead at the hospital. The daughter is listed in critical condition in a coma.
Police are searching for the hit-and-run driver. He is described as a heavyset Hispanic with short hair and a goatee, wearing a white t-shirt and a gold chain necklace. According to police, the Cadillac will be missing its front emblem and have front-end damage.
If you have been injured in a hit-and-run accident or any type of accident that was someone else's fault, speak with a Long Beach personal injury attorney at McGee, Lerer & Associates. Our lawyers are available 24/7 for a free consultation.
If you were injured, it is important that you seek treatment right away. Your personal injury claim will be compromised if there is a delay between the date of the accident and your first date of treatment. The at-fault party's insurance company will use any delay or gap in treatment against you by arguing that if you were really hurt, you would have treated right away and consistently.
If you do not have health insurance or the co-pays are a hardship, attorneys Daniel McGee and Catherine Lerer can refer you to a medical provider who will treat you on a lien basis, which means that the doctor agrees to wait to be paid until your case settles.