A 16-year-old pedestrian was injured in a hit-and-run accident in Wildwood, according to authorities. The July 5 accident reportedly transpired on West Rio Grande Avenue at about 3:00 a.m.
Authorities reported that police are searching for the driver of the vehicle involved in the accident. Purportedly, the driver fled the accident scene without stopping.
The collision rendered the 16-year-old pedestrian unconscious, and he suffered a head injury as a result of the accident, authorities said. Emergency personnel transported him to a Philadelphia hospital, where he was placed in the ICU, reportedly.
Investigators indicated that the pedestrian was struck by the passenger side of the hit-and-run vehicle. Reportedly, police discovered plastic casing from the vehicle’s side-view mirror at the scene.
If the driver involved in this case were to be identified, he or she might be held accountable for the accident not just criminally but also in civil court. For, victims of pedestrian accidents may pursue civil action if there is evidence that the accident was caused by another party’s actionable behavior, such as excessive speeding or distracted driving.
By pursuing civil action, accident victims may seek financial compensation for the damages they suffered as a result of the accident. For example, injured pedestrians may retain a personal injury lawyer and file suit against the driver whose recklessness or negligence caused the accident, seeking restitution for hospital bills, medical expenses and rehabilitation costs. Accident victims may also seek compensation for lost wages if their injuries proved to be disabling. In order to prevail in such a lawsuit, claimants must prove to a civil court that the at-fault driver should be held responsible for the accident. Toward this end, claimants and their attorney may proffer evidence adopted from the police investigation that demonstrates the driver’s negligence or recklessness.
Source: WPVI, “16-Year-Old Struck in Wildwood Hit-and-Run“, July 05, 2014