A teenager died in a Scarborough accident involving a public bus, according to authorities. The Dec. 20 incident occurred on Neilson Road shortly after 5:30 p.m.

On behalf of Joseph Caprara of CBLAW posted in Pedestrian Accidents on Wednesday, December 31, 2014.

A teenager died in a Scarborough accident involving a public bus, according to authorities. The Dec. 20 incident occurred on Neilson Road shortly after 5:30 p.m.

The bus driver did not remain at the scene but continued driving the bus, purportedly. However, according to investigators, it is unclear whether the driver or any of the passengers on the bus were aware that someone had been hit. Officials pronounced the teenager dead at the accident scene. The 27-year-old driver is reportedly cooperating with the investigation. Authorities reported that law enforcement officials expect there to be charges filed against the driver.

The driver was not taken into custody after answering questions at police headquarters, authorities said. Police are still actively investigating the event, seeking more witness accounts of what happened. They are also examining video from the bus, purportedly.

Besides criminal proceedings, pedestrian accidents like this one may also inspire civil action. For example, the families of pedestrians who die in traffic accident may qualify to file a wrongful death claim against the parties who contributed fault to the incident. In this way, people who bring about fatal accidents through their own reproachful behavior may avoid criminal prosecution but still be held accountable for the accident.

In a wrongful death suit, the key is to prove that the parties responsible for the incident acted negligently. In other words, it is necessary to demonstrate that the accident was not inevitable but the result of the named parties failing to exercise proper duty of care. If successful, claimants may be awarded compensation for a variety of their losses deriving from the fatal crash.

Source: The Huffington Post Canada, “TTC Bus Hits, Kills Scarborough Teen, Driver Fails To Remain At Scene“, December 20, 2014