Following an accident, there are a number of things that drivers, by law, are expected to do. First among these is to stop and notify authorities. This is something that every driver knows, yet sometimes, in the fear and the panic of a car accident, drivers sometimes attempt to flee the scene. Hit-and-run accidents are not only highly illegal, they are extremely dangerous to the victims, who may have suffered serious injuries and may be unable to call for help.
A fatal hit-and-run, then, is usually prosecuted very heavily when the driver is located. This seems to be the case for one Ohio woman who allegedly struck and killed a beloved high school teacher in Columbus.
The 64-year-old teacher was riding his bicycle when he was struck by a passing motorist. The driver did not stop to render assistance or to notify authorities, but drove away, leaving the teacher on the roadside. The man died of his injuries.
Police located the car they believe to have caused the bicycle accident several days later. They also found a woman who admits she was driving the vehicle at the time. No charges have been filed, but it seems likely that they will be in the near future. A special prosecutor has been put on the case, and he says he hopes to bring the case before a grand jury before the month is out.
Charges for a fatal hit-and-run often result in substantial jail time. While this may be a relief to the families of the victims, it does little to solve the financial troubles that often accompany the loss of a working family member. That is why, in many cases, the families of hit-and-run victims often turn to civil lawsuits to seek compensation for the personal and financial losses they have suffered.
Source: WXIX-TV, “Special prosecutor handling Ohio bike fatal” No Author Given, Nov. 06, 2013