Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
Truck Driver Hits and Kills Pedestrian in Raleigh
A serious accident resulted in one death and other injuries in Raleigh. A truck driver veered off the road and hit a pedestrian walking nearby. The driver did not immediately stop, but instead overcompensated and ran across all lanes of traffic, ending by hitting a tree on the opposite side of the road. The fatal crash happened at about 5 pm on Fox Road near Thales Academy in Raleigh. The 65-year-old pedestrian died, and the passenger of the truck was injured in the accident. The driver was taken into custody and charged with DWI along with several other charges.
Pedestrians Have the Right of Way
In North Carolina, pedestrians generally have the right of way in intersections and driveways. Vehicles must obey traffic laws and take care to avoid pedestrians. In this case, the pedestrian was walking when he was struck by the 2005 Toyota Tundra. The truck was traveling northeast on Fox Road and was in the furthest lane to the right when he hit the pedestrian. The truck then veered across all lanes of traffic and hit a tree on Town Drive, where the truck came to a stop. The passenger in the truck was seriously hurt when the vehicle collided with the tree and was transported to the hospital.
Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney Matt Arnold answers the question: ” Is a tractor-trailer accident the same as an automobile accident?”
Laws for Pedestrians
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) provides an overview of the general statutes that apply to pedestrians and bicyclists in North Carolina. While walking, a pedestrian must stay on the designated sidewalk or, if there is no sidewalk, must walk in the opposite direction of traffic. Pedestrians should yield to vehicles in places other than intersections and roadways. In other words, pedestrians should stay off the road and should not try to cross the road in places other than marked crosswalks or stop lights. In this case, it is unclear exactly where the pedestrian was at the time he was struck, and an investigation will likely be completed. However, it is important to note that the driver was subsequently charged with reckless driving, failure to slow down for a pedestrian, and failure to maintain lane control.
Pedestrian Accidents Can Result in Serious Injuries or Fatalities
Pedestrian accidents can be among the most serious of all types of crashes. Pedestrians are traveling on foot and do not have the protections afforded when inside a vehicle. On average, each year in North Carolina, about 160 pedestrians and 20 bicyclists are killed on our roads. A person hit by a vehicle traveling at a speed of about 40 mph is likely to die about 85% of the time. Serious injuries may include head trauma, brain injuries, broken bones, internal injuries, and more. Injuries may require extensive medical treatment and lengthy recovery times. The negligent driver should pay for any costs associated with the damages as a result of the crash.
If you were hurt or a loved one was killed in a vehicle accident, you may be owed money for your damages. Contact our lawyers at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 370-2828 for a free initial consultation.
The skilled personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to maximizing the financial recovery and obtaining justice for every personal injury client injured by another party’s negligence. The issues our personal injury clients may be facing include, but are not limited to, slip and fall injuries, wrongful death, product liability, catastrophic injuries, dog bite claims, car and truck accident injuries, motorcycle injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), nursing home negligence, spinal cord injury, boating accidents, and defective medical device injury. Our personal injury attorneys understand the devastating impact such an injury can have on a person’s life, and that the effects so often go beyond physical pain and suffering. The personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to helping clients determine the strength of their claims, and to aggressively pursuing the means necessary to achieve the best possible end result for each client’s particular situation.
Source:
NCDOT: Bicycle & Pedestrian Laws
Driver accused of a DWI after fatal crash on Fox Road | Raleigh News & Observer (newsobserver.com)
Image Credit:
https://www.freeimages.com/photo/truck-accident-1450067
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