Pedestrians should be paid extreme caution by drivers. This is especially true after the sun goes down on Bakersfield streets and those on foot become harder to spot by inattentive motorists. Pedestrians can cross the street and have to trust that motorists will obey traffic lights and crosswalk signals.
In the most heartbreaking incidents, a pedestrian is hit and left in the roadway and the driver responsible decides to leave the scene. The driver usually won’t report the accident to 911 at this point. An injured victim can be left on the road to suffer additional strikes from other unsuspecting drivers. The family of the victim may also face the full cost an accident leaves behind if a hit-and-run suspect escapes justice.
Two Pedestrians Killed in Two Weekend Hit-and-Runs in Bakersfield
Two pedestrians in two separate hit-and-run accidents tragically lost their lives over the weekend in Bakersfield. KGET-TV reports the first incident occurred in south Bakersfield Friday night along White Lane near the intersection of Real Road on December 2, 2022.
Officers responded to the scene at around 9:45 p.m. They found a man injured after getting struck by a vehicle. The victim was pronounced dead on the scene.
Investigators say the driver who may have been responsible did not remain on the scene. They are looking for a gray, mid-2010s Subaru WRX car that is showing front-end damage.
In a second deadly accident early Sunday morning, a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle along the Stockdale Highway east of California Avenue.
KGET-TV reported the accident occurred just after 2:30 a.m. on December 4, 2022. Bakersfield police found a male victim who may have been struck by a vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver or drivers involved fled the scene.
Investigators are looking for an early 2000s white four-door car with a spoiler and major front-end damage. They say two other vehicles may have been involved in the tragic accident. They are looking for a gray truck, possibly a Toyota Tundra. They also want to question the driver of an early 2000s model Toyota Corolla.
Assistance for Families After Bakersfield Pedestrian Accidents
Drivers who cause pedestrian accidents must always stop at the scene of the collision. When they don’t, they leave victims waiting longer on care. They can also force families to pay for the consequences of an accident that wasn’t their loved one’s fault.
After a tragic collision, close relatives of the victim can file something called a wrongful death claim against an at-fault driver’s car insurer. This civil claim asks for assistance with the costs of a memorial and burial, emergency response fees, and any other medical fees built up before the deceased passed away. A claim also seeks assistance to secure the family in the future when they’ll be without the wages the deceased may have provided the household through weekly paychecks.
If a hit-and-run driver responsible for the accident is never found, families may be able to secure support through the victim’s own car accident policy. This support would come from the victim’s uninsured motorist coverage. If the victim didn’t have car insurance coverage, it’s possible they would be covered on a family member’s policy.
Unfortunately, even a family’s own insurance representative can try to unfairly limit the support close relatives receive. It may be necessary to let a skilled personal injury lawyer make sure insurance companies treat family’s fairly at such a difficult time.
Contact a Bakersfield Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
A tragedy can leave close relatives of the victim facing unhelpful insurance companies on all sides. It’s important to have a legal expert safeguarding a family’s interests at such a vulnerable time. Families should never face a financial crisis now or in the years to come over a careless hit-and-run driver’s mistake.
Family members can contact an experienced Bakersfield Pedestrian Accident Lawyer such as Martin Gasparian for a free and confidential case consultation. Mr. Gasparian works closely with families to make sure they have everything they need to rebuild their lives after a tragedy.
