A pedestrian who is hit by a car often faces a long and difficult recovery. When the driver leaves the scene without stopping to render assistance, the victim’s mental anguish may be intensified by anger and frustration.
For example, this year, at the intersection of West Wicks Lane and Babcock Boulevard in Billings, a 66-year-old woman was struck by a dark-colored SUV. The victim suffered 32 broken bones in the accident, including a broken femur, two compound leg fractures and a dislocated arm. The SUV left the scene, but about a month later a video of the accident, taken from a surveillance camera at a nearby business, was released by the Billings Police Department. The alleged driver, a 26-year-old woman, was identified by a member of the public.
The driver was charged earlier this month with failure to stop at an accident involving serious injuries. She made an appearance in Yellowstone County Justice Court recently. Court documents indicate she told police she thought she had hit a deer.
When a pedestrian is hit by a negligent or distracted driver and suffers serious injury, the driver can be held liable for monetary damages in a civil lawsuit. The victim can claim compensation for loss of income, medical expenses and pain and suffering. If the hit-and-run driver is not identified, it may still be possible to recover compensation from the victim’s own uninsured motorist insurance. Working with an experienced personal injury law firm can greatly increase the chances of a successful claim.
Source: Billings Gazette, “Driver of SUV caught on video hitting pedestrian identified, charged,” Ashley Nerbovig, Aug. 17, 2016
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