A fatal pedestrian accident is devastating under any circumstances. But the recent death of a 74-year-old man who was struck by three different vehicles in the Bronx is especially shocking.
While crossing East Tremont Avenue, the victim was struck by a Dodge Durango heading eastbound. A second and third car also struck him, both traveling westbound. Only the drivers of the first and third vehicles remained at the scene of the crash, according to news reports. The driver of the Durango was arrested for a suspended license. Police are still looking for the driver of the second vehicle.
Determining Liability in a Pedestrian Accident
Establishing fault in a pedestrian accident can be challenging. Some assume that vehicles are always at fault, but that’s not necessarily the case. Pedestrians and motorists are required to follow traffic rules and exercise care. News reports from after the aforementioned accident indicated that police were still investigating the circumstances of this incident. Of course, the driver who left the scene may be in legal trouble for leaving the scene of the accident.
In multi-vehicle pedestrian accidents, none of the vehicles may be at fault for the accident. It’s possible a pedestrian did not use a crosswalk and did not follow traffic signals. Although it’s unclear who is at fault in this tragedy, it’s important to understand how fault is determined in this type of accident
Investigators will look at all available evidence. In this case, police may talk to witnesses, the drivers involved, and may look at surveillance video of the incident. This may help determine whether the pedestrian or any of the drivers were partially or completely at fault for the accident.
There is more than meets the eye in terms of pedestrian accidents in New York and elsewhere. If you’d like to learn more about pedestrian accidents, check out our page on the subject.
