A 71-year-old Connecticut woman suffered serious injuries after she became involved in a car accident on June 28. According to the report, the woman was walking across the street when she was struck by an SUV at approximately 11:20 a.m. at Main Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Way in Middletown.
The authorities stated that the woman was immediately transported to Hartford Hospital with injuries that were described as serious. The driver who struck her, who was identified as a 76-year-old man, did not reportedly suffer any injuries. At the time the report was released, the authorities were still investigating the accident, and it was not known if they planned to press charges against the accused driver.
Because pedestrians are not well-protected, those who become involved in a pedestrian accident are likely to suffer serious injuries that may include broken bones, damage to internal organs and abrasions. If the pedestrian is an older individual who is not in the best of health, even injuries that are considered less severe can be critical or life-threatening. However, if it can be determined that the pedestrian was walking in a crosswalk and that the driver was at fault, the pedestrian may be eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit against the accused driver.
In this particular case, the woman may be able to file the lawsuit in order to seek compensation for her injuries. Depending upon certain circumstances in her case, she may be eligible to recover the cost of her medical bills, any future medical bills if her injuries require future surgeries or even compensation for pain and suffering. She may be able to file this lawsuit regardless of whether or not the police file criminal charges or citations against the accused driver.
Source: Connecticut Post, “Elderly driver, pedestrian accident in Middletown“, June 28, 2014
