Hit-and-run accidents have been a problem for Austin in recent years. Despite APD’s efforts to apprehend the perpetrators, people are still being injured. One such incident happened on March 15 downtown. During a SXSW event, a pedicab driving on South Congress near Barton Springs Road was struck from behind by a sedan. The impact was severe enough to lift the pedicab into the air and toss the passenger to the ground. The 20-year-old victim suffered facial fractures and the driver of the pedicab suffered bruising, but is expected to recover fully.
The sedan that struck the two fled the scene.
Unfortunately, pedicab drivers in Austin do not have traditional insurance to protect passengers, so seeking recovery can be difficult, especially when the driver flees the scene.
Hit and Run Stats
In the United States, approximately 11 percent of all reported crashes involve a driver who flees the scene. According to AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, nearly 1,500 people die every year in hit-and-run crashes. Approximately 6 in 10 of those are pedestrians. The majority of fatal hit and run crashes occur on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
For the victim of a hit-and-run, medical bills and lost wages can add up quickly. Without the at-fault party, those costs fall to the victim’s insurance. With the assistance of an attorney and the police, however, it is possible to investigate the case to identify the at-fault party, allowing the victim to pursue legal action.
