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[Fresno, CA] – Derris Kennedy Dies in Pedestrian Accident on Highway 41
Derris Kennedy Struck and Killed In Pedestrian Accident on Highway 41
October 18, 2020 – Derris Kennedy, age 40, of Alabama died in a pedestrian accident on Saturday. Furthermore, the accident was at the Highway 41 and Highway 180 interchange.
According to the Fresno County Coroner’s Office, the incident happened sometime around 1:30 a.m. Moreover, Kennedy was walking on a connector ramp in the traffic lanes of Highway 41.
Subsequently, a 2001 Suzuki Vitara was traveling southbound at about 65 mph. As a result, the car was not able to avoid hitting him.
Officials on the scene said that they found Kennedy, who appeared to be a transient. Also, he was walking within travel lanes of the ramp at the time of the incident. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Additionally, authorities have not yet identified why he was walking within the roadway.
Meanwhile, the rescuers took the 60-year-old driver of the Suzuki. Luckily he will be able to recover from his major injuries at Community Regional Medical Center.
Ultimately, alcohol or drugs were not believed to be a factor in the crash.
When a homeless person is involved in a car accident
Accidents are bad to begin with, but what happens in a car accident that involves a homeless person?
An accident involving a homeless person can be more complex than other kinds of injury-related accidents.
The victim could be without living relatives, might not have any personal identification. Furthermore, they may have an untreated mental or physical illness.
If the accident injured a homeless person, then help that individual get the medical attention he or she needs by calling 911.
Probably the most important thing you can do is get the victim’s name if you can. Local law enforcement will try to find out the victim’s identity first.
The coroner or medical examiner will lead the investigation if the accident is fatal.
It can prove to be difficult to identify homeless people, however official researchers have access to methods that can better help them solve the mysteries.
Some methods that help officials identify victims are by searching the following:
- Police records
- Arrest reports
- Dental records
- Missing person reports
- Military records
- Fingerprints
- Or even, DNA testing
If the victim was not at fault, it is not a bad idea to report the accident to your insurance company. Moreover, the bodily injury coverage may take care of some of their medical bills.
Also, it might not be prudent to file a police report. Particularly, if you believe the homeless person was at fault.
In some instances, a homeless person might try to sue the driver for damages. If so, then you will also want to make sure that you have all the documentation you can get.
Get a copy of that police report and identify any witnesses
You can get into a lot of legal trouble if you are responsible for the accident, and try to leave the scene.
For example, in 2014, a man in Mesa, Arizona, found himself with a $150,000 bond. Subsequently, this was after killing a homeless man during a hit-and-run.
You should understand, that if you remain at the scene and cooperate, your penalties will be a lot less severe than if you had not.
To the family and friends of Derris Kennedy, we cannot begin to imagine what you are going through, and our sincerest condolences go out to you.
Salkow Law are true advocates that will work with you directly to achieve justice. Insurance companies want to pay as little compensation as they can. They will even try to make your case go away completely. We will fight for you so that does not happen.
Unlike, the law firms you see plastered on billboards and buses, at Salkow Law you will receive a level of personal service long forgotten at the ‘big’ firms. With us you will not be a faceless, nameless case file. We’ll answer any questions you have and make sure you have a full understanding of how the process works.
This is especially true for families that have lost a loved one in an accident. We won’t stop until we’ve gotten you fair compensation to alleviate the financial toll that unexpected devastation brings.
Call us for a free consultation at (310) 914 – 8484
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