A pedestrian struck by a car in New Canaan on July 23 has succumbed to his injuries, authorities reported on July 25. The male pedestrian, an employee of the Department of Public Works, was spray-painting the roadway when he was struck by the vehicle.
According to reports, the 71-year-old man was working on foot at about 11:15 a.m. when he was struck at the intersection of New Norwalk Road and East Avenue. The driver, a 60-year-old Norwalk man, was making a left turn onto East Avenue from New Norwalk Road when he collided with the pedestrian. Emergency crews and another person described as a “good Samaritan” helped the injured man.
The pedestrian suffered serious head injuries; he was transported to Norwalk Hospital for treatment but died two days later. The driver remained at the scene of the accident and was cooperating with police.
The cause of the pedestrian accident was unknown; however, there are many factors that could have played a role, including speeding, driving while distracted, driving under the influence and road or weather conditions. In cases like this, the family of the decedent might choose to file a wrongful death claim if the victim died as a result of the accident and a completed investigation by authorities reveals that the driver was negligent in some way. Negligence must be present for the claim to be successful.
If a wrongful death claim is successful, the victim’s family might be compensated for the costs of the victim’s medical attention as well as funeral and burial costs. Additionally, damages might include the value of the victim’s earning capacity minus deductions for living expenses or the pain and suffering of a decedent if, as in this case, the person died days after the accident.
Source: The New Canaan Advertiser, “DPW employee dies after being struck by car”, Aaron Marsh, July 25, 2014
