Posted in Pedestrian Accident,Tennessee Accident Law on July 31, 2017
A 45-year-old man turned himself in to officers at the South Metro Nashville Police Department Precinct in Davidson County Sunday after he was involved in a crash that killed a pedestrian.
WKRN.com reports that the accident occurred just before 9 p.m. on Elm Hill Pike near Royal Parkway. Law enforcement officers told reporters that two people were struck in the roadway by a red truck, and the driver fled the scene without stopping. One of the victims died at a local hospital, while another was seriously injured.
The driver told police at the south precinct where he parked his truck after the incident, and it was retrieved by police to be used as evidence in the case. He also told police that while he saw the two pedestrians on the side of the road, he didn’t realize he was involved in an accident until he returned to his home and noticed fluid on his vehicle.
He was booked into the Metro jail and is being charged with vehicular homicide.
Pedestrians are Everywhere—Stay Safe by Following These Tips
City officials in Nashville are focusing on the making the city more accessible to pedestrians by adding sidewalks and crosswalks to many of the city’s busiest intersections.
Neighborhoods like Germantown, 12 South, Hillsboro Village, and Midtown are all highly walkable areas, and more and more neighborhoods with mixed residential and commercial usage are following suit. Because of this uptick in foot traffic, it’s more important than ever to be aware of the presence of pedestrians when you’re driving through the city.
To reduce your risk of being involved in a pedestrian accident, be sure to follow these tips:
You can’t always count on pedestrians to only cross the street at crosswalks and intersections. Although pedestrians don’t have the right of way outside of those areas, you should never assume that you won’t encounter them in other areas—especially in neighborhoods with heavy foot traffic and plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops.
Many pedestrian accidents occur at low speed and in parking lots. Many businesses in Nashville have limited parking and small parking lots that offer poor visibility. In small lots, it can be difficult to see where pedestrians are walking, particularly when they’re walking between vehicles. Use your mirrors and check all sides of your vehicle before entering or exiting a parking space.
Headlights are necessary for achieving full visibility at many different times of day and in a variety of weather conditions. Turn them on and keep them on at dawn and dusk, as well as during light rain, snow, and fog. In addition to improving your visibility of the road and crosswalks, your headlights also make your vehicle more visible to pedestrians.
Ridesharing services are more popular than ever, and the people who use them can be at risk of suffering serious injuries when drivers fail to slow down or stop as they enter or exit vehicles. If you see a stopped vehicle on the side of the road, be extra cautious as you approach or overtake it, as passengers may be about to exit near your vehicle’s path.
As a driver, you’re used to being on the lookout for other vehicles, but it’s important to be aware that cars, trucks, and SUVs aren’t the only things you’re sharing the roadway with. In addition to pedestrians, you should also be on the lookout for bicyclists and motorcyclists. Nashville is quickly becoming more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly, and their numbers will only increase as the city’s population increases and traffic continues to grow.
If you or someone you know was injured in a pedestrian or hit-and-run accident, it’s vital that you get an experienced Nashville pedestrian accident attorney on your side right away. At Matt Hardin Law, our legal team knows what it takes to win pedestrian and hit-and-run cases, and we’ve helped many victims get the compensation they need for their medical bills and lost wages. Get in touch with us today by dialing (615) 200-1111 or completing a free online consultation form.
