On Thursday evening, Dec. 18, one pedestrian was killed and three others were injured in Denver area traffic accidents. A car accident involving a pedestrian rarely ends well for the person on foot. The family members of a deceased victim, along with the injured victims whose injuries will take time to heal, often must live for with the intensely negative after-affects of the tragedy for years to come.
The first of the three car crashes occurred outside Denver in Commerce City. A teenager was struck and killed by a white truck at approximately 5 p.m. while attempting to cross the road. In this first incident, the truck driver stopped and cooperated with investigators. It is not expected that the man will face any charges relating to he incident, according to police.
The second pedestrian accident occurred at approximately 6 p.m. in Denver. The driver of a white car inflicted serious but non-fatal injuries on a pedestrian. As of Dec. 19, the female driver in this second car accident was at large and unaccounted for, according to police.
The third car accident occurred at approximately 6:45 p.m. in Adams County. According to Colorado troopers, a white sport utility vehicle struck two pedestrians. The SUV driver reportedly fled the scene of the incident, and police are continuing to search for the person. Fortunately, the two people who were hit were not seriously injured, but they were taken to the hospital where they received treatment.
Depending on the unique facts in each of these cases, and depending on if the hit-and-run drivers are accounted for, the victims of these Denver area car crashes may be able to pursue personal injury claims against the drivers who struck them. Similarly, even though the truck driver was not ultimately charged in the first car accident, relatives of the deceased teen can investigate the facts of the incident to determine the strength and viability of a potential wrongful death action. In cases where the driver is not deemed to be at fault, a wrongful death claim may not be pursuable. However, when a death occurs like this, family members may wish to further investigate every detail of the event to get the answers they surely need and decide what legal steps, if any, they choose to take.
Source: kdvr.com, Pedestrians injured, 1 killed in 3 different crashes in metro area, No author, Dec. 19, 2013