Hitting someone is bad, but fleeing the scene of the accident is reprehensible. Not only is this morally wrong, but it is illegal. Unfortunately, hit-and-run accidents still occur in North Carolina (NC). Take, for example, the recent accident that occurred in Burke County.
Stephen and Kevin Moody, father and son respectively, were enjoying a ride on a motorcycle heading down Airport Rhodhiss Road when their lives came to an abrupt end. A driver hit them then fled the scene of the wreck, leaving Stephen and Kevin to fend for themselves. Both were pronounced dead by Burke County EMS when the paramedics arrived, according to wcnc.com. Reports indicate the driver’s vehicle crossed into the other lane of traffic before hitting the Moody’s motorcycle.
A witness called in the hit-and-run accident. Fortunately, that witness also followed the driver who caused the accident after they fled the scene of the wreck. If the witness had not done this, the at-fault driver might still be at large.
My deepest sympathies go out to the Moody family. This appears to have been a senseless and preventable accident.
According to § 20-166 of the North Carolina General Statutes, a driver has a duty to stop in the event of an accident or collision. The Moody family should consult with a wrongful death attorney in North Carolina to discuss their legal options. If the deadly accident was caused by reckless or wanton conduct, a court could allow survivors to pursue punitive damages.
PA