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Jesus Ayala is only 18 years old and has his whole life ahead of him, but he’s been caught up in a situation that will impact his entire future. According to court records, Ayala has been criminally indicted for his role in participating in a hit-and-run that was fatal for a 66-year-old bicyclist.
Ayala was reportedly joyriding around with his 16-year-old friend when the two got into some trouble. The 16-year-old minor was allegedly filming on a smartphone when Jesus appears to ram the vehicle he is driving directly into a bicyclist. Even worse, the duo was riding around in a stolen vehicle.
Instead of stopping to help the 66-year-old retired police chief, the two youngsters fled the scene. Later, the 66-year-old succumbed to his injuries. By October, police arrested both Jesus and the 16-year-old on murder charges. They were also both charged with attempted murder, battery, failing to stop at the scene of a crash, residential burglary, possession of a stolen vehicle, and grand larceny of a vehicle.
During a recent court hearing, Chief Deputy Public Defender David Westbrook attempted to get the charges against the teens dismissed. He argued that the charges should be dismissed because the prosecutors didn’t properly instruct the grand jury or properly present evidence. What’s more, he argued that the prosecution failed to determine if the jury had been tainted by the media’s coverage of the case.
Both teenagers were accused of pulling off the same scheme multiple times. They had stolen other vehicles and filmed themselves hitting other bicyclists and even other vehicles prior to fatally striking the 66-year-old.
Considering all these factors, it makes sense why the judge assigned to this case has declined to dismiss charges against the youngsters. A trial is set to begin on November 12th.
Weighing Out the Costs of a Hit-and-Run
A hit-and-run accident that results in fatal injuries is life altering for the surviving loved ones of the deceased. The loved ones of the victim not only have to endure significant emotional grief and distress as a result of the wrongful death situation, but they might also sustain a host of financial losses after the ordeal, too.
For instance, the family may need to pay off medical bills sustained by the victim prior to their passing as well as burial costs and funeral expenses. If the surviving loved ones relied on the deceased’s income, then they might also have to deal with a sudden loss of financial support.
Under these circumstances, there is legal justice. Loved ones can seek out not only criminal charges due to the hit and run but also a civil claim to help them cover the financial expenses. A wrongful death lawsuit can help the surviving loved ones recover from the losses they unfairly take on as a result of the untimely death of their loved one.
Do you believe you might have a civil claim after experiencing a hit and run yourself or losing a loved one in a hit and run? Schedule a meeting with our firm now to discuss your legal options moving forward.
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