By Pendergast Law on July 13, 2015
A 23-year-old man was killed in a Seattle area car accident involving a hit-and-run driver. According to a news report in The Seattle Times, the fatal pedestrian accident occurred near the 20500 block of Nachant Drive Northeast in the Indianola community south of Kingston. Officials say they are looking for the silver-colored sedan with front-end damage that struck the victim. The Suquamish Police Department is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the driver.
Under Washington Statute RCW 46.52.020: “A driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in the injury to or death of any person or involving striking the body of a deceased person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident or as close thereto as possible.” Drivers who are involved in an injury accident must remain at the scene, offer help and notify the authorities.
Motorists who leave the scene of a crash can face serious criminal consequences if the authorities apprehend them. The victim or the victim’s family can also hold them financially liable for their actions. Injured victims of hit-and-run accidents can file a personal injury claim to receive support for medical bills, lost wages, suffering and other related damages. The family of someone killed by a hit-and-run driver can file a wrongful death claim to receive monetary compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Funeral expenses
- Wages lost that the victim would have earned
- Health insurance, inheritance and other benefits lost because of the crash
- Pain and suffering the victim endured
- Loss of companionship
- Other related damages
However, a significant number of hit-and-run drivers are never apprehended leaving victims and their families wondering who will pay for their financial losses. In such cases, a Seattle car accident attorney can help the victims obtain support by working with their own insurance provider or through other potential sources.