Teen Pedestrian Struck By Tractor-Trailer While Crossing Road After School

For the incoming freshman class at Buford High School in Lancaster County, the school year began in tragedy.  After school one afternoon in September, a ninth grade student was struck by a tractor trailer as she attempted to cross the road near the intersection of Highway 9 and Potter Road.  The student died of injuries she sustained in the accident.  Officials did not release the victim’s name because she was a minor, but they said that the victim was 14 years old.  Pedestrian accidents are devastating for families and communities, but the families who have lost family members due to pedestrians being struck by vehicular traffic have the right to seek justice, including but not limited to by filing wrongful death lawsuits against the parties responsible for preventing the accidents.  If someone in your family was killed after being hit by a truck while crossing a road or walking beside a road, contact a Columbia truck accident lawyer.

Who Is Legally Responsible for Pedestrian Accidents?

The legal principle underlying personal injury accidents and wrongful death lawsuits is that of negligence.  Tennessee law holds that, when you operate a motor vehicle or own a residential commercial real estate property, you have a legal responsibility to drive safely or to maintain your property in a way that does not endanger others.  People whose negligence contributes to preventable accidents can be subject to court orders to pay damages to victims injured in these accidents.

Most accidents where a vehicle strikes a pedestrian are due to the negligence of the driver of the vehicle, since all drivers have a responsibility to be alert to the presence of pedestrians nearby.  The driver might receive criminal charges for causing the accident if the driver was speeding, left the scene of the accident without waiting for police to arrive, or was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.  In many cases, courts rule in favor of the plaintiff, or the defendant agrees to pay a settlement, even if there are no criminal charges arising from the accident.  In some cases, the owner of the place where the accident happened is legally responsible.  This usually manifests itself in lawsuits against cities or counties, where the victim’s family alleges that the lighting in the area was insufficient, making it very difficult for drivers to see pedestrians, or that there were no crosswalks or other safe places for pedestrians to cross.

In the case involving the Buford High School student, news reports have not indicated any civil lawsuits or criminal charges arising from the accident.  The accident took place at 4:30 in the afternoon, so it was light outside, but it also was not during school hours.

Let Us Help You Today

The personal injury lawyers at the Stanley Law Group can help you if you suffered serious injuries in an accident where a vehicle struck you while you were walking.  Contact The Stanley Law Group in Columbia, South Carolina or call (803)799-4700 for a free initial consultation.

Source:

wcnc.com/article/news/local/buford-high-school-student-killed-tractor-trailer-local/275-fa5d9d23-673f-40ec-a27d-ce6d26a3b1a3