Pedestrian accidents often cause serious injuries. The steel frame and speed of a moving vehicle is often enough to cause serious trauma for a person who is struck, regardless of the speed at which the vehicle is moving . Motorists have the responsibility to exercise caution and drive carefully when there are pedestrians in the area. In many cases, drivers are liable for damages when a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle. As this particular Oregon case illustrates, a pedestrian accident can have fatal consequences.
The accident occurred when a woman was struck by a vehicle as she was crossing the street in front of a restaurant on a late October evening. The vehicle’s driver reportedly fled the scene of the accident on foot before law enforcement arrived. When officials did arrive, they found the victim to be suffering from fatal injuries. She died at the scene.
After the accident, law enforcement investigated the incident with the help of an accident reconstruction expert. Sometime the next day, local authorities contacted the driver who allegedly struck the pedestrian and made an arrest. The driver is charged with failure to help an injured person, which is a Class B felony.
Should an individual die because of the negligent actions of another person, the family of the victim may be eligible for financial compensation through a wrongful death claim. This option exists for those who have been negatively impacted by any type of accident, including a pedestrian accident. Although this family is grieving the loss of its loved one, family members may be able to seek compensation and punitive damages by filing a claim with an Oregon civil court.
Source: mycentraloregon.com, “Pedestrian Victim, Name Released, Driver Arrested“, Nov. 1, 2014
