Pedestrians on the Freeway Struck and Killed
One motorist was killed and another injured when they were hit by another vehicle along Fort Worth’s South Freeway on Sunday.
According to police reports, the two victims were involved in a crash on the service road at East Seminary Drive at approximately 3:30 a.m. When the two drivers got out of their vehicles to assess the damage they were struck by a third vehicle.
Jose Solis, age 19, was declared dead at the scene of the accident. The second male victim was taken to an area hospital; however, his condition has not been released. The cause of the initial crash as well as the second and fatal accident is both still currently under investigation.
It is extremely dangerous for pedestrians to ever walk onto an Interstate or freeway, even in the case of emergencies. Pedestrians must take precautions to stay safe. Many people do not realize that it is also illegal in the state of Texas for pedestrians, bicyclists and even horses to be on those types of roadways. Unfortunately, however, pedestrian accidents can cause catastrophic injuries and even death as it did in this case.
If the pedestrian or stranded driver is not proven to have been negligent, then a legal claim may be potentially filed not only against the motorist who struck them, but also against state or federal agencies that are responsible for road design, construction, repair and/or maintenance. All of these agencies that are mostly run by government agencies have a duty to insure that highways are safe. If it is determined in a case that any kind of highway defect – whether it is poor lighting, design or other hazard and it contributes to a pedestrian injury or death on the interstate, freeway or other highway, the responsible agency along with the contractors who did the work on the roadway, may held legally responsible for failing to provide proper design or maintenance.
If you or a loved one have been involved in an auto-pedestrian accident, having an experienced attorney on your side is important. Determining liability is an essential element of successfully handling any personal injury claim. Our attorneys will work with experts in order to establish fault and liability in freeway collisions. Recovery from such accidents can be lengthy and expensive, especially with the high price of medical expenses, time off of work, damages, pain and suffering.
You have rights that are guaranteed by law. The lawyers in our offices have years of experience with auto-pedestrian and freeway accidents. Give our offices a call for your free initial consultation. We will match you with an attorney that will take the time to discuss the details of your specific case and can offer suggestions on how to best proceed.