Hit and run pedestrian accidents in Bridgeport have become a growing concern, especially after recent crashes where drivers fled the scene and left injured victims behind. In one recent incident at East Main Street and Bass Pro Drive, a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle and hospitalized after the driver left the scene.
These situations leave victims and families with a difficult question: what happens when the driver disappears, cannot be identified, or does not have insurance? The good news is that victims may still have legal options, including possible compensation through uninsured motorist coverage.
A Growing Concern in Bridgeport
Pedestrian strikes aren’t limited to one demographic or one part of the city. In recent incidents alone, victims have included adults crossing at intersections, children near crosswalks, and people simply walking home. Hit-and-run crashes make up a significant share of these cases leaving victims without an obvious party to hold accountable.
That uncertainty leads many people to assume they have no options. That assumption is usually wrong.
You May Still Be Covered, Even Without a Driver to Sue
Connecticut law requires every auto insurance policy to include Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage. When a driver flees the scene or has no insurance, they’re legally treated as an “uninsured motorist” and your own UM coverage can step in to pay for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering, up to your policy limits.
This protection isn’t limited to people who were driving at the time of the crash. UM coverage can apply to pedestrians too including a pedestrian who is a spouse, child, or relative living in the same household as the policyholder.
What About Children Who Are Struck?
This is where it gets confusing for parents and where having an attorney matters most. A child doesn’t need their own auto insurance policy to be covered. If a parent or guardian has an auto policy with UM coverage, that coverage may extend to a child injured while walking, biking, or playing near traffic.
The challenge is that every policy is different, and determining whose coverage applies – and how much is available takes investigation. This is exactly the kind of detail an experienced attorney sorts through so families don’t have to guess.
What To Do If You’re a Hit-and-Run Victim
- Call police immediately and make sure a report is filed – this becomes critical evidence later
- Get medical attention right away, even if injuries seem minor at first
- Gather what you can, witness accounts, camera footage, vehicle descriptions
- Check your own auto policy or have an attorney check it for you
- Don’t assume there’s no path to compensation before speaking with a lawyer
Ganim Injury Lawyers Is Here to Help
Hit-and-run and uninsured driver accidents are some of the most frustrating cases victims face — but they are not hopeless. At Ganim Injury Lawyers, we investigate every available source of coverage so that Bridgeport families aren’t left covering the cost of someone else’s negligence.
