Los Angeles Injury Attorney Blog

LOS ANGELES COUNTY -- A 57-year-old woman was arrested on Sunday in Inglewood on suspicion of a hit-and-run accident that injured a pregnant pedestrian and possibly causing the death of her fetus, Los Angeles Times reports. Brittney Cheeseman, 18, was walking at the intersection of Manchester Boulevard and Market Street at about 10:30 p.m. Saturday when she was severely struck by a car. Witnesses at the scene reported to police that the driver failed to stop at a red light before fleeing the scene of the accident. Witnesses also provided a license plate number to police to track down the driver. Following the accident Cheeseman was taken to a hospital with non-threatening injuries and reports from doctors say the 5- or 6-month-old fetus was unresponsive and showed no signs of life.

According to police, the driver was tracked down and identified as Janine Rachel Mayfield. After the arrest, she was taken into custody in the Inglewood jail for felony hit-and-run. Inglewood Police Officer Jonathan Rivers stated an autopsy of the fetus was scheduled on Monday.

Cause of the Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accident

The accident on August 20th remains under investigation by the Inglewood Police Department. However, based on the information provided by the Los Angeles Times, it appears the driver may be held responsible due to witnesses stating she ran a red light. Therefore, it is evident the pedestrian had no way to prevent or avoid this devastating accident.

Pedestrian Accident Injury Liability

Collisions involving pedestrians and automobiles can result in severe injuries or death. In situations such as this one, if the police concluded that the driver is held accountable for the accident, and autopsy shows the death of the fetus was caused by the collison, the victim may be entitled to a substantial amount of compensation for her injuries and the loss of her unborn child. Therefore, the victim or family members of the victim would be well-advised to seek a skilled Los Angeles pedestrian injury lawyer. A knowledgeable and experienced attorney can review the accident, and help the victim understand and protect her legal rights to recover the maximum compensation for medical care expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other damages relating to the tragic pedestrian accident.