Each day throughout the state of Pennsylvania, motor vehicles and pedestrians interact, most of the time without incident. When a problem does occur and a pedestrian is hit by a motor vehicle however, there is a good chance that the person who was hit will sustain serious injuries. In many cases, the injuries are so serious that they result in death.

Earlier this month a Homestead, Pennsylvania, woman who was out enjoying her daily walk was struck by a car as she crossed a street. Despite three nurses tending to the woman shortly after the incident, and medics transporting her to the hospital, sadly, the 73-year-old woman died as a result of the collision.

The fatal accident occurred around 6:00 a.m. as the woman crossed East Waterfront Drive at its intersection with Amity Street. At the time she was struck she was reportedly in the crosswalk. Though this may seem to make it clear the driver was at fault for the incident, things are not so cut-and-dry. This is because when the car hit the woman it was reportedly driving through the intersection following the instruction of a green light.

The driver said the woman came out of nowhere and when he saw her, he attempted to take evasive action to avoid hitting her. Sadly it did not work.

As is illustrated by this accident, assigning fault in any type of car accident can be difficult. Accordingly, it is not uncommon for accident reconstructionists to be used to try to determine how events unfolded. When another person's negligence is determined to have played a role in the death, a wrongful death lawsuit may be filed.

Source: WTAE, "Woman Killed In Pedestrian Accident In Waterfront," April 6, 2012