Jeffrey Frank, 74, was killed in a pedestrian accident, which officials said, involved a hit and run driver. According to a report on Newsday.com, Frank was crossing Broadway near the 1300 block the night of Dec. 19 when a dark-colored SUV that was traveling north struck him. Witnesses said the male driver of the SUV got out of his vehicle, dragged the victim to the side of the road, re-entered his vehicle and fled the scene. Frank was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Officials say the victim was a member of the local fire department. The Hewlett Fire Department issued a statement saying that Frank was a “caring and dedicated member” of the fire department for over 35 years. The investigation into this fatal hit and run crash is still ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 800-244-8477. We offer our deepest condolences to the family members of Jeffrey Frank for their tragic loss.
Why Pedestrian Versus Vehicle Accidents Result in Injuries and Deaths
Pedestrian accidents often result in major injuries and fatalities because of the vulnerability of pedestrians compared with those who are traveling in vehicles. Unlike drivers or passengers of such vehicles, pedestrians lack the safety and protection of devices such as seat belts, airbags or reinforced structures. When a collision occurs, pedestrians absorb the full impact of the crash, making them highly susceptible to severe injuries.
The force of impact plays a critical role in the severity of injuries. Vehicles traveling at higher speeds exponentially increase the likelihood of fatal outcomes. Studies show that the risk of death for a pedestrian hit by a vehicle rises sharply when speeds exceed 30 mph. Additionally, the size and weight of the vehicle, such as SUVs and trucks, can exacerbate the injuries due to higher impact forces and different collision dynamics.
Environmental factors also contribute to the severity of accidents. Poor visibility at night, adverse weather conditions, and inadequate pedestrian infrastructure, such as missing sidewalks or poorly marked crosswalks, increase the likelihood of serious incidents. Common injuries include head trauma, broken bones, internal injuries and lacerations, many of which can be life-threatening.
Pedestrian Accident Victims and Compensation
Injured victims of pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents can seek compensation from at-fault parties for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Families that have lost loved ones in pedestrian accidents can seek compensation for damages such as medical and funeral costs, pain and suffering, lost future income, etc.
Pedestrian accident victims and their families should remember that they can seek compensation for injuries or losses in collisions even if the victim was not walking in a marked crosswalk and even if the driver involved in collision was not charged. Our law firm recovered the full one-million-dollar insurance policy for a girl who was not in the crosswalk when a motor vehicle hit her.
Liability in Hit and Run Collisions
In a hit-and-run collision, the driver and vehicle owner are both responsible parties even if the owner was not driving when the accident occurred. If the driver was on the job and/or operating a company vehicle at the time, his or her employer can also be held liable. When the driver is apprehended in a hit-and-run case, he or she can be held financially liable for the injuries, damages and losses caused.
Such drivers can be held financially responsible whether or not they are arrested and/or charged. If a hit-and-run driver has injured you, please remember that you can seek compensation through the uninsured motorist clause of your auto insurance policy (even though the driver has not been identified) or through a quasi-state agency if there is no motor vehicle in the victim’s household. You should consult a personal injury lawyer immediately to protect your rights.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident or bicycle accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a negligent (careless) driver, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
For over 53 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. We recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and $2,000,000 in a hit-and-run accident, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury, lead poisoning and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: https://www.newsday.com/long-island/crime/fatal-crash-victim-dragged-gcl3s2x8