Distracted drivers are out on the roads at all hours, but at night the risk they present for pedestrians grows to extremely dangerous levels. Drivers often don’t watch out properly for walkers in daylight hours, and at night their carelessness only gets worse.
The Pennsylvania DOT documents the dangers after sundown each year. In 2019, the state reported over two-thirds of all fatal pedestrian accidents happened at night or at dusk or dawn.
Just when more caution is needed, drivers can be checking their phone or paying zero attention to those around them and suddenly cause a deadly collision.
Pedestrian Struck and Killed in North Philadelphia
A man was killed in a hit-and-run accident over the weekend in North Philadelphia. Fox29-TV reported the collision happened on Saturday, October 3, 2020.
Police say the pedestrian was traveling on the southbound side of Whitaker Avenue and was in the rightmost lane when he was hit. Investigators believe the victim was carried over 500 feet and then thrown to the sidewalk. Emergency responders pronounced the man dead on the scene around 3 a.m.
Investigators say debris on the scene indicates the motorist involved was driving a dark-colored sedan. They continue to search for the car and its driver. Anyone with information on the crash should call the police.
Help for Families after a Hit-And-Run Accident
A driver’s negligence at the wheel can prove deadly to anyone else who happens to be on the road. These tragedies not only claim a life, but they also leave a family without a husband or wife, a parent, a child, or a friend. The love and emotional support the victim provided are lost and the paychecks the victim supported the family with are gone too.
Finances are the last thing a grieving family should have to worry about, but often there are ambulance and hospital bills and funeral expenses coming due just weeks after the tragic accident. The loved ones of the victim definitely should not be facing these expenses alone.
If the hit-and-run driver is eventually located and charged, a relative representing the family is allowed to file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault driver in the accident. This civil claim would seek to force the driver and his or her insurance policy to help cover things like medical bills and funeral costs. A successful claim can also help repay the money the victim would have provided through his or her job. Even emotional support the spouse and children would have received from the victim over a lifetime can be compensated.
If the responsible driver is never located, the victim may still be protected by uninsured/underinsured coverage found on the family’s auto insurance. The family can file a claim against their own insurance policy in this case. It’s important to remember that even though this is the family’s own insurance company, insurance agents will still try to pay out as little as possible, even in the wake of a tragedy.
In either case, an attorney can help guide your family during this difficult time and make sure they aren’t taken advantage of as they try to recover the compensation they need to continue on with their lives.
Contact a Philadelphia Wrongful Death Attorney
If your family member lost his or her life due to the carelessness of a driver, contact a highly rated Philadelphia Pedestrian Accident and Wrongful Death Lawyer such as Edith Pearce. Unlike the huge firms with dozens of attorneys and many different attorneys handling different aspects of your case, Edith Pearce is personally involved in every case that we handle. She genuinely cares about her clients and you will not be treated like just another case or file.
