Motor vehicle accidents involving pedestrians don’t generally tend to end well. Simply due to the size and weight of the vehicle versus the unprotected individual, a pedestrian accident typically results in severe injury or fatality to the victims. Even if pedestrians are paying attention and aware of their surroundings, sometimes the unexpected occurs, giving little or no time to react. This seemed to be the case regarding an accident that occurred last year in Connecticut.
A 28-year-old man was killed and another, a 48-year-old, was injured after they were struck by a pickup truck while in a parking lot. The driver of the truck, a 54-year-old man, was supposedly driving home from a local casino when he lost control of his vehicle at a curve and collided with the two men. Local authorities reported that the driver had been drinking before the accident took place.
The driver in this case was arrested and charged with manslaughter and DUI. He posted the $200,000 bail and has been able to remain free while waiting for his court dates. He recently pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and isn’t due back in court until mid-May.
The family of the deceased and the surviving victim have chosen to pursue civil actions against the driver, the casino owners and others not specified. If liability can be established for any of those believed to be responsible for this pedestrian accident, a Connecticut civil court could grant a judgment for monetary damages to be paid. This compensation can help provide for the financial losses suffered, emotional losses endured and to provide for the pain and suffering suffered as a result of the incident.
Source: New Haven Register, “Man pleads not guilty in fatal Connecticut crash“, , April 11, 2014
