A man was hit by a vehicle while attempting to cross Route 355 in Germantown on the evening of Friday, November 13. He later passed away from his injuries after being transported to the hospital.

According to Montgomery County Police, the accident occurred shortly after 6 p.m. in the northbound section of Route 355, just to the north of Scenery Drive. The 47-year-old male pedestrian was walking across the street when a 1998 Chevy Malibu traveling north hit him. The driver of the Malibu was a 52-year-old man from Germantown. The driver was also injured in the accident, but there was no indication of how serious his injuries were other than authorities saying they were not life threatening.

The crash remained under investigation in the days following, with police officers encouraging anyone in the public who had more information to call in and provide assistance. No charges were initially filed against the driver.

Fault in pedestrian accidents

In most scenarios, the driver of a motor vehicle is at fault when it comes to pedestrian accidents. Even if the pedestrian is not crossing the street in a crosswalk, motorists are still expected to be alert and prepared for any potential hazards. However, exceptions do occur if the pedestrian jumped out into traffic without warning or if the driver simply did not have time to slow down to avoid hitting the pedestrian — as long as the person on foot was not crossing legally.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident due to an inattentive or otherwise negligent driver, speak with a La Plata auto accident lawyer at Mudd, Mudd & Fitzgerald, P.A. right away.