When tragedy strikes it is not uncommon for others to want to step in and help. However, providing service to those in need can sometimes put responders in the way of harm. Just recently a Pennsylvania woman was killed when she responded to a car accident and was struck by a separate vehicle.
The accidents occurred in nearby Pittsburgh near Willow Pass and Loftus. A relative of the victim was involved in a vehicle crash at the intersection and the victim then entered the accident scene to check on her family member. While in the street the woman was hit by another vehicle and that was not involved in the first crash.
Though law enforcement officials said do not believe that the driver of the vehicle that struck the victim was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they have not yet determined the cause of the accident. Further investigation may offer some insight into why this terrible tragedy happened.
A pedestrian accident can be a devastating incident given the significant discrepancies in size and strength between a person and a moving car. As illustrated by this story, pedestrian accidents can be fatal and can leave individuals reeling after the loss of a loved one.
After a pedestrian accident, the surviving relatives of the victim may not be aware of the legal rights they may possess. In some cases the family members of fatal accident victims can seek their damages in civil court through wrongful death lawsuits. Wrongful death lawsuits hold the individuals who are responsible for other people’s injuries and losses to compensating their victims for the damages they have sustained.
Source: abc7news.com, “77-year-old woman fatally struck walking to crash scene in Pittsburgh,” Amy Hollyfield, Feb. 28, 2016