A 59-year-old woman using a walker was killed in a New York City car accident involving a hit-and-run driver. According to a PIX 11 news report, the fatal pedestrian accident happened at 42nd Street and 9th Avenue in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Officials say she was attempting to cross the road at the intersection when a white minivan struck her and drove away. She was pronounced dead at Lutheran Medical Center. The investigation to find the hit-and-run driver is underway.
Every driver in New York has a legal responsibility to remain at the scene of an accident when someone has been injured or killed. Drivers must alert emergency services, remain at the crash site, exchange information and provide insurance details to all parties involved.
The legal options available for victims of hit-and-run accidents depend on a number of different factors. If the authorities apprehend the at-fault driver, then, the victim or the victim’s family can file a claim to receive compensation for the crash. They can pursue financial compensation from the hit-and-run driver for losses such as medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and a number of other related damages.
If the hit-and-run driver is not found, the victim or victim’s family may be forced to collect from their own auto insurance policies. Investigators will collect information such as the license plate, video evidence and eyewitness testimony, but they are not always able to find the driver. When a hit-and-run driver isn’t caught, the victim or the victim’s family can seek compensation through the uninsured motorist clause of their auto insurance policy.
If you have lost a loved one in a hit-and-run crash, it is advisable to stay abreast of the ongoing investigation. It will also help to have a New York City attorney by your side that will help protect your interests during these difficult times. Contact Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP at (212) 986-7353.
Source: http://pix11.com/2015/09/06/woman-fatally-struck-in-hit-and-run-while-crossing-street-in-brooklyn/