A 31-year-old Missouri man trying to get home from work became the victim of a fatal hit-and-run recently as he was walking on the side of a highway. Police are now searching for the vehicle they believe to be involved. Pedestrian accidents such as this can not only devastate the loved ones left behind, but they can result in serious criminal charges for the drivers and the chance of being involved in a wrongful death suit.

According to reports, the man left work at 6 p.m. on a Tuesday evening, and he called his girlfriend to tell her that he was walking to a convenience store to catch another bus after missing his bus home. He hadn’t called her or returned home by the following morning. She called police to report him missing.

He was found dead the next day alongside Missouri Highway 210. A street lamp was next to him that had fallen over in an accident. Police believe that a white pickup truck that was hauling a trailer may have been involved. They are asking the local community for any information they may have about the vehicle or driver.

As the grieving family must now cope with the tragic loss of their loved one, the police are continuing their investigation and search for the driver involved in the accident. If the driver is ever found, he or she may face criminal charges in addition to a wrongful death claim by the family of the decedent. When pedestrian accidents like this occur, the victim’s loved ones may be awarded compensation in Missouri civil court if they are able to prove that the accident was caused by negligence on the part of the driver. Successfully litigating such a case may help alleviate financial burdens resulting from the tragedy, but it may also give them a sense of closure.

Source: kansascity.com, “Northland pedestrian never made it home from work at Worlds of Fun,” Christine Vendel, July 26, 2013