What happens if you accidentally hit someone with your car and they die?

Wrongful Death Lawsuit Losing a loved one through a car accident can be a traumatic experience. If you are at fault for causing death to a pedestrian by a traffic accident, a civil lawsuit can be filed against you by the surviving members of the person who died as a result of the accident.

Is it your fault if someone runs in front of your car?

Generally speaking, under California law, if someone hits you from behind, the accident is virtually always that driver’s fault, regardless of the reason you stopped. If the driver cannot stop, he is not driving as safely as the person in front of him.

What happens if someone hits your car and you don’t have insurance?

If you were the at-fault driver in the accident and you don’t have insurance, you’ll have to pay out of pocket for any damage or injuries you caused — even though you don’t have coverage, the other driver has the right to recover damages from you, meaning they can sue.

What happens if a pedestrian runs in front of a car?

For example, if a driver is going the speed limit through a commercial district and a pedestrian runs out from behind a parked car just a few feet in front of the driver’s car, the driver will not be held liable.

What happens when a car accident results in a death?

Many car accidents happen because a driver of one of the vehicles involved acted carelessly or recklessly. If that accident leads to the death of someone else, the driver may face criminal charges, such as for vehicular manslaughter. Not every accident that results in death, however, will leave the “at-fault” driver with criminal liability.

What happens if a driver hits a pedestrian and flees the scene?

But a driver who strikes a pedestrian and then flees the scene will likely face criminal charges, possibly even a felony arrest for hit and run, and a potential prison sentence.

What happens when a family member dies due to a accident?

For the spouse of the deceased, this could mean loss of consortium as well as the loss of a partner and companion. Every family that loses a loved due to a car accident should recover a full measure of compensation from the party at fault.