CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A fatal crash involving a pedestrian and a vehicle occurred in the North Tryon Division on April 28.
The accident happened just before 7 a.m. in the 4900 block of Equipment Drive. A Nissan Rogue traveling north struck a woman standing in the travel lane of the roadway. Emergency responders arrived quickly, but the woman had already suffered fatal injuries.
Caroline Smith, 38, was identified as the victim. Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene. The driver of the Nissan, a 21-year-old man from Charlotte, was not injured in the accident.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department shared details in a press release, noting that their Major Crash Investigation Unit is examining the incident.
Further updates have not yet been released.
Caroline Smith tragically killed in Charlotte pedestrian accident
Incident Location
PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
This tragic accident underscores the dangers that pedestrians face every day in this country.
According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, pedestrian fatalities in the United States totaled an estimated 7,318 in 2023. This marked a decrease from the 7,737 fatalities reported in 2022. However, the number of pedestrian deaths was still 14 percent higher than the pre-pandemic level in 2019. Since 2010, pedestrian fatalities have risen by 77 percent, which is significantly higher compared to the 22 percent increase in all other traffic fatalities during the same period.
“Road conditions, visibility, and lighting are all possible contributing factors considered and examined,” said Candice Bond, a Managing Partner with Bond Legal.
“An accident reconstruction team is sometimes needed to help piece together what happened. All of these resources are necessary for helping clients receive monetary compensation for damages or a loss following a collision,” said Bond, an experienced pedestrian attorney.
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
“It is almost always a driver’s duty to yield to any pedestrian,” said Bond. The family of Caroline Smith may be entitled to a wrongful death claim.
“Family members of wrongful death victims may seek damages for loss of income and companionship, pain and suffering, funeral expenses, and emotional distress following a tragic or catastrophic accident,” she added.
Serving as an advocate, an attorney can help compassionately guide a family through this difficult time while protecting their rights.
“Insurance companies often try to pressure victims to settle for a quick payout for far less than the case is worth,” Bond noted. “However, an attorney will vigorously advocate for their client to ensure that they are treated with respect and compensated fairly.”
Accident Injury News' national legal analyst Candice Bond is experienced in fatal pedestrian accidents, and if you or a family member need help, she is available for a free consultation to guide you.
(Candice Bond, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Bond Legal. Accident Injury News can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-986-7738 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).
