Long Island Hit and Run Noted by Personal Injury Lawyer
New York, NY (PRWEB) September 30, 2014 -- A pedestrian was struck by a hit-and-run driver in Shirley on September 11, 2014, according to Suffolk County police. The accident occurred at approximately 7:55 p.m. A hit-and-run vehicle was reportedly heading north on Grand Avenue at the time that a 54-year-old woman from Mastic was crossing the street just to the north of Montauk Highway after bringing her son to school, according to a September 14th article by CBS Local News.
Pedestrian Seriously Hurt:
According the Long Island Exchange on September 15th, the injured pedestrian was taken to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue where she was treated for what were reported by police to be "serious injuries", as seen in the before mentioned CBS article. However, there was no initial report from the hospital regarding her condition.
Although details about the vehicle involved in this Suffolk County personal injury were not immediately known, according to a News12 article, authorities arrested a suspect on September 13th. The suspect, John Almeida, was driving a 2002 Nissan Maxima and was charged with Leaving the Scene of an Incident involving Serious Physical Injury and Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle, 2nd Degree. Police are asking that any possible witnesses contact Seventh Squad detectives or Crimestoppers. The suspect was ordered held on $50,000 cash bail or $150,000 bond for the hit-and-run. He is due back in court on Sept. 19.
Locating Hit-and-run Drivers Key:
Although preliminary reports of this hit-and-run incident do not clearly establish whether the pedestrian was hit due to negligent operation of a vehicle, the fact that the motorist fled the scene may be pertinent to the injured party says Attorney Harlan Thompson.
New York State law provides for the awarding of damages when a pedestrian is hurt due to the negligent operation of a motor vehicle. However, it is important to identify the hit-and-run motorist in order to seek damages from that driver or his/her insurer.
New York hit and run accidents, defined as leaving the scene of an accident without reporting, are considered traffic offenses punishable by a traffic summons. However, if there is personal injury involved, it becomes a misdemeanor. These misdemeanors are tried and usually punished by fines or community service sentences, but jail time can be ordered by the judge.
Witnesses Important
It is always critical for witnesses to come forward for a number of reasons. First of all, fleeing the scene of an accident with injuries is a crime. Second, a victim of a hit-and-run driver may incur substantial medical expenses, lost wages, and potential long-term rehabilitation costs, but the driver's identity must be established before compensation for these losses can be pursued.
When an offending hit-and-run driver is identified, litigation can be filed on behalf of a victim if negligence can be reasonably asserted. A complimentary consultation with a personal injury lawyer who concentrates on this area of the law may assist you or a loved one. For more information about how New York state law is applied in such cases, please Pulvers, Pulvers, Thompson & Friedman today.
Harlan Thompson, Pulvers, Pulvers, Thompson & Friedman, LLP, http://www.pulversthompson.com, +1 2123558000, [email protected]
Share this article