Pontiac Hit and Run Car Accident
A Pontiac hit and run car accident has lead to injuries and an arrest. The accident occurred on December 8, 2008 near the intersection of North Perry and Robinwood streets in Pontiac. The person hit, who may have been a pedestrian, suffered two broken legs, a broken pelvis, and head trauma. He is in critical condition at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak.
The driver was apprehended after leaving the scene because a large crowd of people had surrounded a vehicle matching the description outside of Newman Lane Apartments. A man came out of the building and said he hit the victim after the victim jumped in front of his car. He was arrested and is being held pending charges for fleeing the scene of an accident, drunken driving, and being caught driving with a suspended license for a fourth time.
I am deeply sorry to have read about this accident. The victim’s injuries are very serious and I hope he is able to pull through and recover fully.
The first thing to do in an accident like this is to separate the criminal charges which the driver will have to face from the legal issues facing the accident victim. Criminal charges seek to punish illegal actions through fines or jail time. A criminal trial is a public action, brought by the prosecutor on behalf of “the people.” The goal of criminal law is to punish, not compensate the victim.
For compensation, the accident victim should file a claim for Michigan No Fault insurance benefits. No Fault insurance will pay for all of his medical expenses, including the hospital bills from his current visit and all reasonable and necessary follow-up treatment which is caused by this accident. No Fault insurance will also pay for a portion of his lost wages for up to three years and for household replacement services and attendant care, among other benefits.
Michigan law allows people who have been very seriously injured in a car accident to file a lawsuit to seek additional compensation. For example, a lawsuit might seek payments for decreased wages or earnings for longer than the three year period paid by the No Fault insurance. Or it might seek damages for pain and suffering. Since this accident victim’s injuries are very severe, this is something he should strongly consider. A lawyer can help go over the pros and cons with him, but the decision to sue is one he has to make.
If you would like more information about your rights after a Michigan car accident, you can order our FREE book, “The Ultimate Michigan Car Accident Handbook” by clicking on the book link. We will send it out immediately along with other important information.
For more information about Michigan car accident cases, visit our law firm web site at www.BuckfireLaw.com. If you would like to speak with one of our Michigan car accident attorneys about your case, feel free to call us anytime at (800) 606-1717 or simply submit this contact form and we will get back to you quickly.
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