South Bend Hit and Run Incident Killed Pedestrian
According to Mishawaka Police, a 54-year-old man was struck and killed
by an unknown vehicle while walking south on Michigan Street, near Bowman
in South Bend. The County Fatal Crash Team responded to the evening incident
and determined the pedestrian was walking between the curb and the bike
lane line when he was struck from behind. Police are trying to get a complete
description of the car that struck the man and investigators continue
to gather evidence. Leaving the scene of a hit and run accident, especially
when there is an injury or death involved is an illegal, terrible, cowardly act.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of this victim
and we hope the driver involved in the crash will be found. If you know
anything about the hit and run crash in South Bend, contact your local
police department immediately.
Hit and Run Accidents Are Tragically Too Common
A
pedestrian is killed by a car every two hours, or seriously injured every nine minutes. If
a driver causes an accident with a pedestrian, bicyclist, another car,
or a fixed object and then leaves the scene without stopping to render
aid, this is called a hit and run. Many of these drivers flee the scene
leaving the victim or their families to deal with the medical, financial,
and emotional ramifications of the crash.
For obvious reasons, intersections and walkways pose the most common injury
risk to pedestrians and bicyclists involved in a hit and run. The cause
of this type of crash is often due to drivers failing to make a full stop,
driving while distracted, or driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol.
If the driver of a vehicle is identified, they are almost always liable
in a hit and run crash.
What to Do If Injured in a Hit and Run
If you’re a pedestrian victim to a hit and run, your injuries may
be severe. Allow others to help dial 911 for you if necessary. If your
injuries are small, it’s better to stay focused on gathering as
much information as you can, call the police and then file an accident
report with all you have gathered using the outline below. More information
will increase the chances that the police will catch the driver who hit you.
- Gather Information: First, do your best to recall as much information as
you can about the car and driver that hit you, such as:
- Model
- Color
- Make
- License plate number
- Any noticeable or unique bumper stickers, tires, or dents
- Any type of description about the driver you can give will help
- Identify Witnesses: Next, look around for any persons who were at the scene
and may have saw the accident occur and collect:
- Names
- Contact information
- A brief statement of what they saw
- Gather Evidence: Take the following steps before leaving the scene:
- Write down the time and location of the accident
- Take pictures or video of the accident scene
- Take pictures or video of your injuries
- Seek Medical and Legal Help: To identify any injuries and begin the diagnosis,
treatment and the full recovery process
after being involving in an accident:
- Visit an ER or make an urgent visit to your family doctor for medical review
- Contact legal help as soon as possible
At Wagner Reese, we work with victims and the families of victims to hold
drivers accountable for hit and run accidents.
Indiana Hit and Run Attorneys
Our experienced
car accident attorneys have helped recover millions of dollars for clients injured in vehicle
crashes, as well as for the families of those pedestrians who have lost
their lives as the result of the wrongdoing of a driver. Whether you yourself
were seriously injured in a hit and run wreck or a loved one was involved
in a fatal accident, we can help.
Give us a call today at (888) 204-8440 to schedule a free consultation
or speak with us by
submitting our online form and our attorneys will review your information.
