Hanford, CA — On the night of Wednesday, April 10, 2024, a pedestrian was struck and killed around 8 PM at the intersection of 10th Avenue and Cameron Street, according to ABC10.
Upon arrival, police discovered a man lying in the street. Reports indicate that he was crossing 10th Street outside of the designated crosswalk when the collision occurred.
Following the incident, the driver who crashed into him stayed and cooperated with law enforcement, saying that she allegedly did not see the pedestrian and was unable to avoid hitting him.
Authorities have ruled out drugs or alcohol as contributing factors in the crash. The identity of the deceased pedestrian has not yet been disclosed as investigations continue into this unfortunate event.
Duty of Care Toward Pedestrians
Drivers are expected to provide a special “duty of care” toward pedestrians, who have greater vulnerability and are more likely to receive fatal injuries in traffic collisions. However, establishing liability can depend on multiple factors. Sorting through these complexities to determine fault is one of the services a personal injury attorney can provide.
Even after fault is established, insurance companies will attempt to minimize any claim they cannot deny. That is another place where a personal injury attorney can prove valuable by negotiating on behalf of victims to win for them the full compensation they are due.
Wrongful Death Claims
Establishing fault in a collision can depend on multiple factors. Helping to determine legal liability is one of the ways that a personal injury attorney can help grieving families recovering from the loss of a loved one in a traffic accident.
If it is determined that another driver holds responsibility for their loved one’s death, they may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim with the insurance provider of the at-fault driver. A wrongful death claim can provide compensation to help cover hospital fees, burial costs, and the loss of support for dependents of the deceased.
