Around 9 pm on Thursday, September 19th 16-year-old Jonathan Ramos was riding his e-bike in San Marcos on Mission Road, near Knoll Road, when he was hit by a white pickup truck traveling 80 mph on a city street. The driver of the truck did not stop to render aid and fled the scene before emergency personnel arrived.
The following Monday, the alleged driver, only identified as a 23-year-old man, surrendered himself to police. Investigators say he did so under the advice of his lawyer and he has since been booked at the Vista jail on suspicion of hit-and-run causing injury and reckless driving resulting in serious injury.
When paramedics arrived on the scene of the collision, Ramos was lying unconscious and covered in blood on the ground with his bike, shoes, and the contents of his backpack strewn across the road.
The 16-year-old suffered multiple broken bones, internal bleeding, and damaged organs (his liver, spleen, and lungs, specifically.) He was rushed to the hospital and underwent emergency surgery right away.
Afterward, Ramos had a tube helping him breathe and another pumping fluid out of his lungs. He was in a coma for some time but has since woken up– although according to his mother, the painkillers he’s on have left her usually happy and kind son confused and aggressive. According to his doctors, he is showing good signs of recovery, though he will need to undergo additional surgeries and rehabilitative therapy to fully recover.
Hit and Run Accidents – A Growing Concern
Hit and run accidents have become increasingly frequent in San Marcos. These types of accidents can cause severe injuries and fatalities for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists who are involved. Several Factors that may contribute to these types of accidents include:
- Avoidance – drivers may flee the scene of the accident in an effort to avoid the legal consequences they may face due to the accident. This may be especially true if they are driving while intoxicated, don’t have a valid license, or are uninsured.
- Fear – drivers who are intoxicated or have other reasons to fear being arrested may panic and choose to flee the scene before officials arrive.
- Distracted drivers – if a person is distracted while driving they may not even notice if they’ve struck a pedestrian or cyclist, which may cause them to fail to stop and render necessary aid.
“Due to the nature of hit and run accidents, victims may not receive the necessary immediate medical assistance they need and it may cause a delay in calling for emergency services,” says attorney Brett Schreiber of Singleton Schreiber, “This delayed response time can increase the risk of life-threatening injuries, especially in situations where the victim cannot call for help themselves.”
Legal Options for Victims of Hit-and-Run Accidents
Victims of hit and run accidents may be able to file personal injury claims against the at-fault driver if they are able to find and identify them, as they have in the case of Jonathan Ramos. A personal injury claim may allow the victim to obtain compensation for damages including:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional turmoil
- Mental anguish
- And more
If you or a loved one have been a victim of a hit and run accident, contact the team at Singleton Schreiber today to learn more about your options. Call (619) 771-3473 or email info@singletonschreiber.com to get started today.
