Motorcyclist Struck By Two Cars In Dorchester County

Leaving the scene of an accident that involves bodily injury or major property damage is a crime in South Carolina.  The penalties vary according to how much damage the accident caused and whether the defendant has any prior criminal convictions.  The worst hit and run accidents are where more than one vehicle hits a pedestrian, bicyclists, or motorcyclist, and none of the drivers stop to render assistance.  Such a scenario should be unthinkable, but you would be surprised at how often it happens.  Sometimes drivers don’t realize that they have hit someone until they are some distance down the road, and by then, they are too scared to turn back and find out how bad the damage is.  Other times, the drivers do not even consider stopping, because they are so worried about some other way that things will go wrong if they interact with police, such as if the driver has a suspended license, an active warrant, or a car full of drugs and drug paraphernalia.  If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident where the at fault driver left the scene, contact a Columbia motorcycle accident lawyer.

Police Arrest One of Two Drivers Allegedly Involved in Hit and Run

One Friday evening in May 2024, Christopher Ashley was riding his motorcycle on Ladson Road in Dorchester County; he was transporting a passenger, but news sources did not indicate the passenger’s name.  A car that was turning onto Ladson Road struck the motorcycle and ejected both passengers, but the driver did not stop.  A second car also struck Ashley as he lay in the road, and the driver of the second car also left the scene.  When first responders arrived, they pronounced Ashley dead.  He was 37 years old.  The passenger sustained life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital.

Police determined that the driver of the second vehicle that struck Ashley was Jeannie Polite, 43.  She is facing charges for hit and run resulting in death.  Police set her bail amount at $150,000, but no news updates about her case have been published since May 13.  Police have yet to identify or arrest the driver of the first car that struck Ashley’s motorcycle.

Justice for Victims of Hit and Run Accidents

Even though hit and run is a crime, not everyone who leaves the scene of an accident gets convicted.  Without eyewitnesses, it is difficult for prosecutors to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accident happened the way they say it did.  Even if the at fault driver in a hit and run accident does not get convicted, or even if the driver does not receive criminal charges, injured people and the families of victims of fatal hit and run accidents have the right to file personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits in civil court.

Let Us Help You Today

The liability lawyers at the Stanley Law Group can help you if you were injured in a hit and run motorcycle accident.  Contact The Stanley Law Group in Columbia, South Carolina or call (803)799-4700 for a free initial consultation.

Sources:

live5news.com/2024/05/11/one-dead-following-hit-and-run-crash-dorchester-county/

live5news.com/2024/05/13/woman-charged-with-hitting-motorcyclist-that-was-ejected-bike-ladson-rd/