Steuben County Police Officials Searching For White Semi-Truck Involved In Fatal Bath Pedestrian Collision
BATH, NEW YORK (November 18, 2023) – One person has tragically died in a Bath hit-and-run collision involving a Volvo semi-truck along Interstate 86.
Steuben County officials are saying that the collision took place between the evening of November 17. and the early morning hours of November 18. A westbound Volvo semi-truck hit a pedestrian and then fled the scene of the collision.
Tragically, the pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. Police officials believe that the white Volvo semi-truck will likely have significant damage of the passenger side of the vehicle.
A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Bath Semi-Truck Accidents
Thousands of people are killed or seriously injured in truck accidents every year. According to the IIHS, “A total of 4,714 people died in large truck crashes in 2021, a 17 percent increase compared with 2020. Sixteen percent of these deaths were truck occupants, 68 percent were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles, and 15 percent were pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists.” There are a number of reasons that semi-trucks can be particularly dangerous for pedestrians.
- Semi-trucks can weigh as much as 80,000 lbs and are much more difficult to stop than passenger vehicles.
- Semi-trucks have large blind spots that can easily obscure the presence of pedestrians and vehicles.
- Semi-truck drivers are often asked to work long hours and may naturally become fatigued during their routes.
Semi-truck drivers need to get a commercial driver’s license and are held to a high standard in terms of safety. Pursuant to New York Vehicle Code 1146, all drivers must exercise due care to avoid hitting pedestrians, bicyclists and domestic animals in the roadway. If a driver fails to slow down to avoid hitting a pedestrian, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. Drivers that flee the scene of collisions could also face criminal liability for their actions.
If a semi-truck driver was working at the time of a collision, their employer could be held at fault. Generally speaking, employers are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. It is important that evidence is properly preserved after any hit-and-run collision.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Fragments of the fleeing vehicle should be sought.
- Medical records related to the crash should be preserved.
- Photos of the accident site should be taken.
At the end of the day, the evidence left behind after a collision can help paint a clear picture of what happened. For example, skid marks in the roadway may indicate that a driver attempted to avoid an accident. The family of any person that died in a collision with a semi-truck may be able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim. A pedestrian accident attorney can investigate the unique facts of your case free of cost and get you the answers that you are looking for.
Investigating New York Hit-And-Run Semi-Truck Accidents
We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of the pedestrian that died in this Bath collision. There needs to be some accountability for the sake of the victim’s family. The semi-truck driver involved in this collision should do the right thing and come forward. It is never too late to do the right thing.
Do you need more information about a Bath hit-and-run car accident? Our team of pedestrian safety advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that hit-and-run drivers are brought to justice. Whether you just hav legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.
