Ronaldo Perez Injured in Long Beach Hit-and-Run Motorcycle Accident

Ronaldo Perez Was Struck a Second Time by a Driver Who Never Stopped While He Lay in a Long Beach Intersection

LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA (October 29, 2026) – A 20-year-old motorcyclist identified as Ronaldo Perez was severely injured in a hit-and-run motorcycle accident at Downey Avenue and Andy Street in Long Beach.

Los Angeles County officials are saying that the crash occurred on the night of Tuesday, September 22. Ronaldo Perez, who had recently turned 20, was riding his motorcycle home from work when a driver struck him at the intersection, according to family members who spoke with ABC7.

Perez was thrown to the pavement, and while he was still lying in the roadway, a second vehicle hit him, according to Long Beach police. That driver did not stop, and first responders were called to help the injured rider.

Ronaldo Perez underwent brain surgery and suffered bruises across his body, his family said. His brother told reporters that Ronaldo has had to relearn how to breathe and move, and he pleaded with the driver who fled to come forward.

Long Beach police are searching for the second driver. The family has set up a GoFundMe to help with his medical expenses and recovery.

Downey Avenue has seen serious motorcycle crashes before. In July 2025, a 20-year-old rider was killed and his passenger was injured at Downey Avenue and South Street, according to Long Beach police.

Citywide, the Long Beach Watchdog reported that 2025 was the deadliest year on Long Beach roads since at least 1990, with 56 traffic deaths. Questions remain about whether lighting, signal timing, or traffic patterns at Downey and Andy left a downed rider exposed, and whether nearby cameras captured the second vehicle.

Liability for Long Beach Hit-and-Run Motorcycle Accidents

California law treats motorcyclists as full road users, and every driver around them owes the same duty of care. Under Civil Code section 1714, anyone who fails to use ordinary care behind the wheel can be held responsible for the injuries that follow. Vehicle Code section 20001 adds a separate duty, requiring any driver involved in a crash that injures someone to stop immediately and meet legal obligations at the scene. When a fleeing driver cannot be identified, Insurance Code section 11580.2 can allow an injured person to turn to uninsured motorist coverage. In crashes involving more than one vehicle, responsibility is often examined in several layers:

• Lookout: Drivers must watch for motorcycles, which are smaller and harder to judge at intersections than passenger cars.
• Speed: A driver traveling too fast for conditions may be unable to stop for a rider or debris already in the road.
• Duty to stop: A driver involved in an injury crash must stop, identify themselves, and provide reasonable help to the injured person.
• Multiple drivers: When two vehicles strike the same person, each driver’s conduct can be examined separately.
• Evidence: Video, vehicle damage, and paint transfer can help identify a driver who left the scene.

Courts have long recognized that a single injury can have more than one cause. In American Motorcycle Assn. v. Superior Court (1978), the California Supreme Court took up the case of a teenager who was seriously injured in a novice motorcycle race and sued the organizations that ran it. The court held that fault among multiple negligent parties can be divided according to each party’s share of responsibility. That principle can matter in any crash where more than one driver is involved, though every case turns on its own facts. It also shows how California law looks at each participant’s conduct rather than stopping at the first impact.

Sharing the Road With Motorcyclists

Motorcyclists face risks that people inside a car do not. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 6,335 motorcyclists were killed in traffic crashes in 2023, making up 15% of all traffic deaths. The agency estimated that another 82,564 riders were injured that year. NHTSA also reported that the motorcyclist fatality rate in 2023 was nearly 28 times that of passenger car occupants. Drivers can lower those risks with a few simple habits:

• Look twice: Checking intersections and mirrors a second time helps drivers spot riders hidden by traffic or glare.
• Night driving: Motorcycle headlights and taillights are small, so drivers should slow down and scan carefully after dark.
• Space: Extra following distance gives a driver time to react if a rider brakes suddenly or goes down.
• Downed riders: A driver who sees debris or a person in the road should slow, stop safely, and call 911.
• Staying: Remaining at the scene lets a driver help and gives investigators a complete account.

Many serious motorcycle injuries happen in an instant, but recovery can take months or years. Riders who suffer brain injuries may need surgery, rehabilitation, and long-term support. California law gives injured people the right to pursue compensation for medical care, lost wages, and the disruption a crash causes to daily life. When a driver flees, uninsured motorist coverage and a thorough investigation can help fill the gap. Every injured rider deserves a full accounting of what happened and who was responsible.

Investigating Hit-and-Run Accidents in Long Beach

We at Feher Law send our best wishes for a full recovery to Ronaldo Perez. We hope the driver who left him in the road is identified, and that this crash brings closer attention to how riders are protected on Long Beach streets. Incidents like this raise serious safety concerns about driver awareness and the duty to stop after a collision. What could have kept a rider already down in the roadway from being struck a second time?

Have you or a loved one been hurt in a motorcycle or hit-and-run accident in Long Beach or elsewhere in Los Angeles County? Injured riders may be entitled to compensation for medical care, lost income, and the long recovery that often follows a serious crash. When a driver flees, families often face the hardest question first, which is simply who was behind the wheel. Our team of safety advocates and accident investigators can help you understand what happened, from traffic and business camera footage to vehicle damage and witness accounts that may show what happened in the moments after the first impact. If you need answers about your rights or a free, independent investigation, we’re here for you anytime at (310) 340-1112.