Pedestrians are taught to cross the street within the confines of a crosswalk. This can ensure an individual’s safety, as drivers are taught to yield to people who are in a crosswalk. There are times when San Diegans cross in the middle of the road. While the behavior is dangerous, it does not give a driver license to engage in a hit-and-run accident. Unfortunately for one man, such was the case, and the results were grave.
A local resident who walks regularly in Hillcrest now worries she needs to be what she calls a “defensive pedestrian.” The comment came after a man walking his dog on University Avenue was struck and killed when crossing the street mid-block. The driver, who was in a black pickup truck, hit the man and kept driving, according to witnesses.
The victim, who law enforcement say was 35, was taken to a hospital but passed away shortly afterward. His dog did survive and is staying with a shelter run by the county’s Department of Animals Services. Law enforcement say the truck involved in the incident likely has front-end damage and is a four-wheel drive vehicle.
An individual who suffers an injury due to a driver’s negligence may be entitled to compensation for damages such as medical expenses. When a victim passes away, a family may file a wrongful death lawsuit in his or her behalf. In either case, the victim or the victim’s family should consult with an attorney as soon as possible so the lawyer can begin collecting evidence and building a case.
Source: NBC San Diego, “Man Walking Dog in Hillcrest Struck, Killed by Hit-and-Run Driver,” Elena Gomez, R. Stickney and Diana Guevara, Feb. 24, 2014
