A homeless man was recently killed after he was hit by two automobiles on St. Michael’s Drive in Santa Fe. 48-year-old Ernie Baca was allegedly wearing dark clothing and walking in one of the westbound lanes of the roadway when he was hit by a Subaru that was headed west around 8:30 pm. Immediately following the initial crash, Baca was reportedly struck by another automobile. The injured man was purportedly transported to Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center with serious head injuries. Sadly, Baca later died as a result of the injuries he sustained in the traffic accident.
The exact cause of the pedestrian accident is currently under investigation by the Santa Fe Police Department. According to Deputy Chief John Schaerfl, neither driver appeared to be intoxicated when Baca was struck. In addition, Schaerfl said speed does not appear to have played a factor in the crash. At this time, it is unknown whether Baca himself was intoxicated when he was hit. Schaerfl stated the area where Baca was struck is dimly lit at night.
Negligent, careless, or reckless drivers often cause pedestrian accidents in New Mexico and elsewhere. More than 4,200 pedestrians died and about 70,000 were hurt in traffic accidents throughout the United States in 2010. Sadly, that was a four percent increase over the previous year. Pedestrian fatalities in 2010 accounted for 13 percent of all traffic deaths. In addition, approximately 73 percent of all pedestrian crashes occurred in a city or other urban setting and about two-thirds of those killed were men.
Regrettably, whenever someone who is traveling on foot is struck by a vehicle the resulting injuries can be catastrophic or fatal. Depending on the facts of the situation, a pedestrian accident victim may be entitled to receive compensation for their medical expenses, lost benefits and wages, suffering and pain, and any resulting disability. Certain relatives of someone who was killed in a pedestrian accident may be able to recover the costs associated with their loved one’s funeral and other damages. If you or a close family member was hurt in a New Mexico pedestrian accident, you only have three years during which to file a lawsuit. Because of this limitation, it important for you to speak with a skilled lawyer as soon as possible following any traffic accident.
If you were injured or someone you love was killed in a New Mexico pedestrian accident, do not hesitate to contact the Fine Law Firm. Our hardworking Albuquerque car accident attorneys are available to help you recover the compensation you deserve following a traffic wreck. At the Fine Law Firm, our dedicated lawyers have more than 100 years of combined experience handling thousands of car, motorcycle, truck, and other injury accident cases throughout New Mexico. To schedule a free confidential case evaluation, please call the Fine Law Firm today at (505) 889-3463. You may also contact our capable lawyers through the law firm’s website.
More Blog Posts:
Study Claims Obesity is Linked to Increased Traffic Deaths in New Mexico and Nationwide, New Mexico Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, January 22, 2013
Three Killed, Two Hurt in Head-On Truck Collision on I-40 Near Grants, New Mexico Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, January 15, 2013
Additional Resources:
Police say man struck by two cars had been dressed in dark clothes, by Nico Roesler, Santa Fe New Mexican
Man hit by 2 cars on St. Michael’s dies Saturday, Santa Fe New Mexican