Durham, NC (November 4, 2020) – Police in Durham responded to the scene of a fatal hit-and-run crash on Tuesday evening. The crash took place around 6:30 p.m. on Fayetteville Street near Cook Road.
According to officials, 50-year-old William Christopher Smith of Durham was crossing the road when he was hit by a 2009 Mitsubishi Galant. The driver of the Galant left the scene after the accident and before officers could arrive. Rescue crews provided medical treatment to Smith but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
Police are looking for the driver of the Galant. The vehicle is believed to be missing a passenger-side mirror and could have a damaged headlight. Anyone with information surrounding the accident is asked to call the Durham Police Department Traffic and Crash Team at 919-475-4149 or Crime Stoppers at 919-683-1200.
No additional details have been released at this time.
We wish to offer our most sincere condolences to the family of William Christopher Smith in the aftermath of this tragic hit-and-run accident in Durham.
Fatal Pedestrian Accidents 
In 2018, there were 225 reported fatalities due to pedestrian accidents in North Carolina. Among all reported pedestrian crashes in our state, about 80% resulted in some type of injuries to the pedestrian. The dangers of a pedestrian accident are obvious. Victims of these crashes are extremely vulnerable to death and serious injury as they have no protection from the tremendous force of a collision. Some common injuries in pedestrian accidents include broken bones, fractures, head trauma, soft tissue injuries, and spinal cord injuries. Pedestrians who are able to escape serious injury are very fortunate.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a North Carolina pedestrian accident, you should seek legal help as soon as possible. If the crash was caused by the negligent actions of another driver, it is important to exercise your rights to the fullest extent of the law. North Carolina law allows recovery for pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, and potentially more depending on the facts of your case. In crashes involving a fatality, a wrongful death claim may be pursued against the other driver.
North Carolina pedestrian accident lawyer Jason M. Burton is here to help when you need a trusted attorney who can help you fight for what you deserve. At Burton Law Firm, our clients always come first and we fight for each and every person to receive the compensation that they need to help them manage one of the most difficult times in their lives. Since 2012, we have recovered more than 40 million dollars on behalf of injured victims and their families.
Our team is here for you at any time, day or night. We offer free consultations and case evaluations for all potential clients. Most accident cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you do not owe an attorney fee until we obtain a recovery on your behalf. To speak with a member of our firm, please contact our office at the link on our website or give us a call at (833) 623-0042.
Note: Burton Law Firm utilizes a variety of outside sources in the creation of these accident news posts. These sources include news bulletins, police reports, first-hand accounts, news stories, as well as additional outside sources. For this reason, the details surrounding this accident have not been independently verified by our office or writing staff. If you find information that is not correct about an accident that we have written about, please contact our firm as soon as possible so that we can promptly correct the information. If you would prefer that we remove the story, contact us directly and we will make every effort to remove the story in a timely manner.
Disclaimer: Our team of personal injury lawyers at Burton Law Firm has taken pride in being active members of our local business community for more than 8 years. We are always striving to improve the quality of life for our community members and improve the overall safety and well being of all North Carolinians. We hope that by providing this information about the dangers of driving that we will bring added awareness and drivers will use increased caution when operating a motor vehicle. Our thoughts are with everyone who may have been affected by this incident. This post is not a solicitation for business. None of the information in this post should be misconstrued as medical or legal advice. The photos in this post are not a depiction of the actual accident scene.