As a driver it is essential that you give children the right of way when crossing roads, most of us do. However there are some occasions where children become injured when crossing the road. If this was to happen to us, then as the driver it would be our duty to then stop the car and follow the correct measures to make sure that child is safe.
However in some circumstances, drivers panic and flee the scene, this is known as hit and run. If you are subjected to a hit and run accident, whether you are a pedestrian and have been ran over or if someone runs into your vehicle and drives off you’re still entitled to compensation. It can seem like a confusing time as you don’t have any of the other party’s details to follow up. If you have a child who has been involved in such an accident then they have up until the age of 21 to make a claim.
To ensure that justice is done, and in order for the police and your solicitor to track the other party down, there are a few things you can do:
- If possible try and record the registration number and make of the vehicle that hit you. Although it is understandable that this is not always possible.
- Take down the details of anyone who witnessed the incident.
- Report the case to the police if they are not already aware of the incident.
- Ensure that you receive medical attention if you have been injured.
- If possible take any photos of the accident scene.
I know that in most cases it’s not possible to do all of the above, but even little things like taking witness details will help both the police when tracking down the driver, and the solicitor who is handling your claim.
Although we’d like to think that most people would stop if they become involved in an accident, some don’t. In the most tragic of cases drivers sometimes leave their victims for dead. This is what happened when an 18-year-old boy ran somebody down in October last year.
John Smith, 18, fought back tears in a courtroom as he pleaded guilty to causing the death of a ten-year-old boy in a hit and run. Smith, appeared at York Crown Court charged over the death of Sean Hamilton, who was hit by a Ford Transit van as he crossed Holgate Road in the city on October 3 last year.
The youngster was treated at the scene by paramedics and then taken to York District Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. North Yorkshire Police said at the time that the occupants of the van stopped after the incident but then abandoned the vehicle and ran off.
In court today, Smith, wearing dark trousers, a black T-shirt and black hooded jacket, fought back sobs as he pleaded guilty to causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving. His voice was barely audible as he spoke to enter guilty pleas to two further charges of failure to stop at the scene and failure to report the accident. Smith is due to be sentenced September 30.
