Wednesday afternoon collision happened on Bowman Street
RICHLAND, OH, (October 02, 2024) - A tragic accident occurred on Wednesday when a 20-year-old employee of the Richland County Highway Department was fatally struck by an SUV, according to the State Highway Patrol.
Trenton Gallaway lost his life on Wednesday when he was struck by a motorist in an SUV along Bowman Street in Richland County.
The victim, identified as Trenton Gallaway from Lucas, was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident happened just before 2:30 p.m. while Gallaway was performing road maintenance on Bowman Street, between Myers and Amoy West roads.
According to the patrol, a 43-year-old woman from Shelby was driving a Nissan Rogue when she tried to overtake a vehicle on the left. In doing so, she struck Gallaway who was standing in the vicinity.
No other injuries were reported. The patrol has not yet determined if charges will be filed against the driver, and the investigation is ongoing.
PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
This tragic accident underscores the dangers that pedestrians face every day in this country.
According to data from the Governors Highway Safety Association, the number of pedestrian fatalities in the United States has grown substantially faster than all other traffic deaths. An estimated 7,342 pedestrian fatalities occurred in 2021, an increase of 13 percent from the previous year.
“Road conditions, visibility, and lighting are all possible contributing factors considered and examined,” said Candice Bond, a Managing Partner with Bond Legal.
“An accident reconstruction team is sometimes needed to help piece together what happened. All of these resources are necessary for helping clients receive monetary compensation for damages or a loss following a collision,” said Bond, an experienced pedestrian attorney.
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
“It is almost always a driver’s duty to yield to any pedestrian,” said Bond. The family of Trenton Gallaway may be entitled to a wrongful death claim.
“Family members of wrongful death victims may seek damages for loss of income and companionship, pain and suffering, funeral expenses, and emotional distress following a tragic or catastrophic accident,” she added.
Serving as an advocate, an attorney can help compassionately guide a family through this difficult time while protecting their rights.
“Insurance companies often try to pressure victims to settle for a quick payout for far less than the case is worth,” Bond noted. “However, an attorney will vigorously advocate for their client to ensure that they are treated with respect and compensated fairly.”
Newsline's national legal analyst Candice Bond is experienced in fatal pedestrian accidents, and if you or a family member need help she's available for a free consultation to guide you
(Candice Bond, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Bond Legal. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).