A pedestrian was killed in a tragic accident that occurred on Highway 25 in Starkville. The pedestrian died at the accident scene, and the driver who had struck the pedestrian left the scene of the crash. The driver was then located a short time after the accident. The driver could face criminal charges as the result of their actions. As is the case with many pedestrian accidents, it is possible that the family of the deceased could bring a wrongful death claim against the driver in addition to any criminal charges that may be brought.
Pedestrian accidents like the one that is described above happen more frequently than most people realize. On average, twelve American pedestrian are hit and killed by vehicles every day. The survival rate for pedestrians who are struck by vehicles is low because the force of an impact from a vehicle can throw a pedestrian quite a long distance or crush them between the vehicle and some other vehicle or object. Many times, the pedestrian dies instantly or dies within a short time after the accident at the accident scene as the result of their injuries.
The family of a pedestrian accident victim can bring a wrongful death action against the driver who struck and killed their loved one. A wrongful death action can help the accident victim’s family recover for the losses and damages that they have experienced due to the loss of their loved one. Some of the damages that family members may experience are funeral expenses, loss of support, and loss of companionship.
When a pedestrian is killed as the result of being hit with a vehicle, the driver of the motor vehicle may have been driving negligently or recklessly, possibly in violation of the law. However, fatal pedestrian accidents do sometimes occur without any unlawful behavior on the part of the driver. Fortunately, families of pedestrian accident victims can bring wrongful death actions regardless of whether criminal charges are filed. As far as unlawful behaviors that lead to pedestrian accidents are concerned, driving under the influence of alcohol is one of the most common. Sometimes, the conduct of the at-fault driver even exceeds that which the law considers unlawful behavior. There are various types of criminal charges, such as vehicular manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter, which can be filed in cases involving extreme recklessness.
Giddens Law Firm, P.A.: Supporting Mississippi Wrongful Death Plaintiffs
If someone that you love was killed in a pedestrian accident, you may be feeling many different things all at once. Losing a loved one suddenly in a pedestrian accident is tragic, and your family needs support during this difficult time. The Mississippi Wrongful Death Attorneys at the Giddens Law Firm, P.A. may be able to help you pursue a wrongful death claim against the driver who is responsible for your loss. A wrongful death action can help your family with funeral expenses and provide financial support in acknowledgement of your loss of your love one’s support and companionship. To learn more, please call our office today, at (601) 355-2022.