If I hit a pedesterian in a crosswalk, will I go to jail?
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If I hit a pedesterian in a crosswalk, will I go to jail?
I was Driving down a street, and in a mid-block crosswalk, I hit a pedesterian with my car. I was traveling 10-15 miles a hour and was below the speed limit. It was a honest mistake. I do not know what happened to the pedesterian. Is it possible I will go to prison if he dies? I don’t know the state of the pedesterian. The police took a statement and gave me a ticket.
Asked on December 12, 2011 under Accident Law, California
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
If you were ticketed for the accident that you were involved in with the pedestrian by law enforcement, you need to carefully read the ticket for the offense that you were cited for. From what you have written, it seems that you were cited for a traffic infraction as opposed to a misdemeanor of a felony charge.
I suggest that you report the accident as soon as possible to your insurance carrier assuming you have one for the vehicle you were driving. Likewise, I suggest that you consult with a criminal defense attorney who also practices personal injury law about the incident and the ticket that you received.
Most likely you will not go to jail for what happened. However, most likely there will be a civil claim for the pedestrian's injuries against you. You might want to track down the person who you struck with the vehicle to see how she or he is recovering.
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