Losing an elderly loved one to natural causes is typically less traumatic than when the negligence of another party causes his or her death. It might be the case for the surviving family members of an 82-year-old man who lost his life when a vehicle in Denver struck him earlier this month. This was one of those hit-and-run accidents in which the at-fault driver was located by law enforcement within hours.
According to an accident report, the elderly pedestrian was in a crosswalk at an intersection in Denver. At about 8:30 p.m. on a Friday earlier this month, a 39-year-old driver allegedly disregarded a red light and sped through the intersection. It led to a collision in which two other vehicles were involved, and the driver who ran the red light struck the pedestrian.
The driver who ran the red light failed to stop, and he fled the crash scene. However, law enforcement located the vehicle that struck and killed the pedestrian later that evening. Police arrested the alleged hit-and-run driver the following morning. He is on a bond of $20,000, awaiting the court hearing later this month.
Regardless of the outcome of the criminal cases against drivers who caused hit-and-run accidents, the surviving family members of deceased victims can proceed with civil lawsuits. An experienced personal injury attorney in Denver can advocate for them throughout the legal proceedings of wrongful death claims. If such a lawsuit is successfully presented, a monetary judgment might follow. Documented claims can include financial losses such as end-of-life expenses along with noneconomic damages like pain and suffering.