Pedestrians in rural Tulare and Tulare County won’t always have sidewalks and safe crosswalks provided. On roads on the outskirts of cities, those on foot likely won’t have the safety of street lights when they travel in the early morning.
In these conditions, drivers should be monitoring the roads even more carefully, but that care isn’t always given. Drivers can edge off a road and strike an unprotected pedestrian to cause major injuries. Drivers must stop and see the victim’s safety. When they don’t fulfill this duty, they can face felony hit-and-run charges.
Pedestrian Badly Hurt in Hit-And-Run Accident in Tulare
A hit-and-run driver left an injured pedestrian at the scene of a frightening accident Thursday morning in western Tulare. KFSN-TV reports the heartbreaking accident occurred along State Route 137/Inyo Avenue near the intersection of Soults Drive on November 17, 2022.
Witnesses called in the accident to the California Highway Patrol at around 5:20 a.m. Those witnesses said they heard such a loud crash that they thought two vehicles had collided, but then realized someone walking on foot had been hit. The victim was located and rushed to the hospital. The victim was last said to be unconscious and suffering from serious injuries.
CHP investigators say the hit-and-run suspect left the scene heading west in a maroon or dark-colored sedan. If you have any information about the driver involved in this accident or the vehicle involved, please call the California Highway Patrol.
Support for Pedestrians After a Tulare Pedestrian Accident
Pedestrians struck by cars can suffer severe injuries. They’ll need immediate medical attention for the best chance at survival, but that care can be delayed if an at-fault driver decides to flee the scene of an accident.
The range of traumatic injuries that a victim on foot can suffer makes it that much more important for victims and their families to seek as much injury support as possible. Doctors may not know how long it will take for those injuries to heal, or if those injuries could create issues in the years ahead.
If a hit-and-run driver has been arrested, victims and their family members can file an injury claim against an at-fault driver’s car insurance provider. This claim asks for reimbursement for all medical bills and the lost wages a victim suffers while out of work. The victim’s physical pain and emotional trauma also earn compensation.
When a hit-and-run driver remains unidentified victims may file an injury claim with their own auto insurance provider. This claim seeks money from the victim’s uninsured motorist coverage. If a pedestrian doesn’t have car insurance, it’s possible they are covered by a family member’s policy. No matter whose insurance is used, it’s always smart to have a skilled pedestrian accident lawyer making sure insurance adjusters are extending all of the support that a victim needs to recover.
Contact a Tulare Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
After you or a loved one has become the victim of a careless hit-and-run driver, reach out to a Tulare Pedestrian Accident Lawyer for a free consultation on your best options and to learn about your rights.
Martin Gasparian, the founder of Maison Law, works to protect those hurt in serious accidents. He strives to see that pedestrian collision victims receive everything needed to fully recover. Mr. Gasparian also wants to make sure victims and family members aren’t left facing financial hardships years down the road.
