Drivers in Merced are required to show caution to any pedestrian no matter where they encounter them. That care is especially needed after sundown when pedestrians will become less visible to any motorist, especially drivers who don’t pay full attention to the road.
Merced emergency responders see the consequences of this lack of attention shown by drivers every year. In 2020, the city saw 24 accidents involving pedestrians. Those accidents led to three tragic deaths and left another 25 victims injured. What’s more, over a third of those accidents occurred at dusk or overnight.
A careless driver can easily miss someone on foot and cause a dangerous impact. That terrible mistake is only magnified when a thoughtless motorist decides to drive away from the scene of a pedestrian accident to escape blame.
Elderly Pedestrian Hurt by Hit-and-Run Driver in Merced
A man using a walker was struck by a hit-and-run driver early Thursday morning in Merced. Yourcentralvalley.com reported the accident happened around 3:30 a.m. in the area of 16th Street and O Street on April 8, 2021
The Merced Police Department responded and found a 75-year-old man lying along O Street. The victim was said to have major injuries including cuts on his head. He was rushed to a Modesto hospital where he was listed in stable condition.
Investigators say the driver responsible for the accident drove away from the scene and did not call authorities to get help for the victim. Officers believe the car involved was a 2002 to 2006 Ford Mustang. They are using local surveillance video to help identify the suspect.
If you have any information about this incident you are asked to call the Merced Police Department.
Assistance for Victims After a Merced Pedestrian Accident
Victims of pedestrian accidents can wonder how they’ll find justice after a driver strikes them and then speeds away to go unidentified. Victims and their family members can suddenly be facing the bills for a week or more in the hospital and there may be more expenses to come in the months ahead.
Filing a claim for damages on behalf of a victim can help with the expense of medical care and also cover other monthly bills that have gone unpaid during recovery. If an at-fault driver isn’t identified, victims will count on their own car insurance policy for financial help. This claim is filed on the policy’s uninsured motorist coverage. If victims don’t have car insurance, they may be covered by a close family member’s policy.
If an investigation identifies a suspect and the at-fault driver is arrested, a claim for damages can immediately move forward against his or her insurance provider. The suspect will be facing criminal charges as well, but the victim’s civil claim can proceed separately. This claim can provide compensation to help the victim recover physically and financially.
Contact a Merced Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
After a pedestrian accident involving a serious injury, contact an experienced Merced pedestrian accident lawyer such as Martin Gasparian for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. Mr. Gasparian wants to protect victims while they heal and keep insurance companies from shortchanging them. He believes that every family should work directly with their lawyer, get honest advice, and the personalized attention to detail their case deserves.
