Pedestrians must remain extra vigilant when crossing streets in California or anywhere else. Car accidents involving pedestrians are usually very serious and can leave the victim with debilitating injuries or worse. Such was the case in a hit-and-run accident in Long Beach recently that claimed the life of a woman. The suspect driver who originally hit the woman has still not been found.
Accident details
Local readers may have heard of the incident from news sources, but the accident occurred just two days after Christmas of last year. Apparently, the woman was in the crosswalk at the intersection of The Promenade and Fourth Street trying to make her way across the road. Without warning, a red pickup truck struck the woman and dragged her along Fourth Street until she finally became dislodged from under the vehicle. The pickup truck then fled the scene.
As the woman was lying in the roadway, another vehicle came along and struck her again. The driver of the Camaro stopped and cooperated with authorities, and authorities claim that driver was not impaired or acting negligently behind the wheel. However, they are still searching for the driver of the red pickup that initially struck the woman.
Legal recourse for surviving family members
Losing a loved one is never easy, especially so close to the holidays. Furthermore, the fact the alleged at-fault driver fled the scene likely only adds to the surviving family’s distress. Should authorities locate the driver deemed responsible for the accident, the surviving family members of the deceased can pursue a wrongful death claim against the individual along with anyone else who has ownership in the suspect’s vehicle. By working with an experienced California personal injury attorney, affected parties can increase their chances of obtaining justice in the wake of the horrible and preventable tragedy.