Miami Personal Injury Attorney Blog
A 21-year-old Miami-Dade College student died and another pedestrian was critically injured when a pickup truck ran up onto the sidewalk, hitting both people, reports NBC Miami.
The truck’s driver, a 48-year-old man, had run a red light at the intersection of Northwest 79th Street and 27th Avenue in Miami-Dade. His truck collided with another car in the intersection, and then drove up onto the sidewalk, hitting two pedestrians. One of the two victims died at the scene of the accident; the other is currently at Jackson Memorial Hospital where he is listed in serious condition.
After hitting the two men, the driver attempted to leave the scene of the Florida pedestrian accident, but was forced off the sidewalk by another pickup truck, which rammed him off the road and onto the sidewalk. According to police, the hit-and-run driver was intoxicated at the time of the accident.
The county prosecutor’s office has charged the hit-and-run driver with DUI manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident involving death and serious bodily injuries, and DUI property damage.
In addition to the criminal charges brought by the prosecutor’s office, the driver may face a civil lawsuit brought by the family of the man who died in the accident. Known as wrongful death lawsuits, these claims compensate the families of those killed by someone else’s negligent or reckless behavior. Although no amount of money can replace a loved one, a wrongful death case can seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and the loss of companionship, which can ease the financial burden placed upon a family following a death.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a pedestrian accident in Florida, please don’t hesitate to seek the advice of experienced Miami pedestrian accident attorney Ruth E. Johnson. To learn more, call The Law Office of Ruth E. Johnson today at 305-720-2086.