The South Carolina Highway Patrol is still conducting their investigation into the death of a 47-year-old man that was walking east on Highway 290. The man was a victim of a pedestrian vs. car accident that occurred close to Greer recently. The coroner only recently released the name of the victim.
The man was fatally injured at the scene and died as the result of blunt force trauma. The accident occurred at approximately 9:30 p.m. near Fairview Road. It was not reported whether the driver of the vehicle that hit him was injured in the crash.
Since the South Carolina Highway Patrol’s investigation is not yet complete, charges may yet be filed, if at all, depending on the results of the official investigation. There was no indication as of the date of this writing as to whether speed, alcohol or some other factor contributed to the crash. While details continue to emerge, the family of the victim is left to prematurely bury their loved one.
They do have the right to file a wrongful death action against the driver of the vehicle that hit their loved one. Even if a civil action filed by the family is successful, that won’t change the fact that their loved one is dead. Pedestrians are the most vulnerable users of our state roads. Anytime there is a pedestrian vs. car accident, it is a fairly safe bet that the pedestrian is going to suffer more severe injuries than the driver of the vehicle that hit the victim.
Source: Greer-Taylors, SC Patch, “UPDATED: Coroner Identifies Pedestrian Killed in Crash Near Greer,” Carolyn Farr, May 1, 2013
Steven Krause is a personal injury, auto accident, and workers’ compensation lawyer who practices in Anderson, SC. He graduated form the Thomas M. Cooley School of Law and has been practicing law for 40 years now. Steven Krause believes in fighting for the injured. Learn more about his experience here.