Fatal Pedestrian Hit-And-Run Accident in Gulf Breeze

A driver is facing serious criminal charges following a car-pedestrian accident in which he allegedly struck and killed a 61-year-old man on Highway 98 in broad daylight and shortly thereafter fled the scene.

Authorities say that Ryan Carter was driving his 2002 Tahoe along Highway 98 during the early afternoon of July 16, 2013. The Tahoe hit and seriously injured a recent Ford Motor Company retiree who was walking along the shoulder. The injured pedestrian, Roger Gallan Sr., died at the hospital four days later.

Incidents such as this highlight the extreme danger that pedestrians face from motorists, especially when the vehicles are traveling at a high speed. Additionally, according to the Centers for Disease Control, one pedestrian is injured in an auto accident every eight minutes. One pedestrian is killed in an auto accident every two hours.

When injured in a collision, pedestrians need to speak with an attorney right away. An attorney can help you see a doctor, even if you have no money and no insurance. An attorney can also file a negligence lawsuit against the driver. Many times, the driver’s insurance company tries to argue that the pedestrian was partially at fault because he or she was not on a sidewalk or stepped into traffic.

The facts nearly always suggest otherwise. Most auto collisions are caused either by aggressive drivers or distracted drivers. And since most pedestrian injuries are quite severe, many juries are sympathetic and look to blame the drivers. This is especially true where a hit-and-run driver is involved.