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A Wilmington man has been charged with aggravated felony speeding to elude arrest, felony hit and run, felony serious injury by vehicle-DWI, DWI, and failure to maintain lane after hitting a pedestrian with his pickup truck Monday morning.
The driver was speeding down Market Street at approximately 2:30 a.m. when he was spotted by police. He pulled into a parking lot and made a left-hand turn in an attempt to escape from the police when his truck jumped the median. He continued to drive and then tried to take a right-hand turn when his vehicle hit a curb and then struck a pedestrian. The pickup truck landed in a retention pond in front of a local hotel.
The driver was able to get out of the truck before it sank in the pond. He attempted to run away, but police caught the man shortly after he ran.
The victim was transferred to New Hanover Regional Medical Center and is being treated for a broken leg. No other details about the victim were provided.
Pedestrian Accidents
Victims of pedestrian accidents are entitled to pursue damages against the driver of the vehicle that hit them for any losses they may sustain. In this accident, the victim has suffered a broken leg, which means there will be medical expenses for treatment of that injury. Depending on the severity of the break, the victim may also require surgery and physical therapy. All of these expenses are damages he or she can collect in a car accident claim.
The victim may also lose income because they are unable to work because of the broken leg, especially if the job they have requires physical activity or standing. The at-fault driver is liable for that loss of income the victim will have and those wages, along with benefits the victim loses, are damages their Carolinas injury attorney can pursue on their behalf.
Other losses, such as pain and suffering, emotional anguish, scarring, disfigurement, or disability may also be included in an injury claim.
In some cases, a personal injury attorney may also pursue punitive damages for their client. Punitive damages are usually awarded as a way to punish the at-fault driver for reckless behavior and to send a message to society that this behavior is not tolerated. For example, in this accident, the driver of the pickup was charged with multiple offenses, including drunk driving. Punitive damages are often awarded in alcohol-related accidents.
Contact a Carolinas Injury Attorney Today
If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident, contact a North Carolina car accident attorney to see what type of financial damages you may be entitled to. The legal team from Shapiro & Appleton has been advocating for injured clients since 1985 and will do all we can to ensure you receive the best possible outcome under the circumstances of your case. If you would like to meet with one of our skilled North Carolina car accident attorneys to find out how we can help, call us today at (833) 997-1774 for a free case evaluation.