It’s hard enough to figure out why so many drivers somehow manage to hit pedestrians. With all of the traffic signals, crosswalks, and laws that are in place to protect people walking in and around Las Vegas, you would think that auto-pedestrian accidents would be relatively rare. So it’s especially sad when you hear about vehicles that fail to avoid pedestrians – especially those individuals who are disabled.

A wheelchair-bound man is recovering from injuries sustained this past weekend after he was hit by a grey sedan in Sunrise Manor in the northwest valley. According to authorities, the incident occurred around 5:30pm Sunday evening near the intersection of Linn Lane and East Lake Mead Boulevard. The driver of the car then fled the scene and faces hit-and-run charges.

It’s not clear whether the pedestrian was in the street, a marked crosswalk, or an implied crosswalk (there is a marked crosswalk on the north side of the intersection), but police have determined that the driver of the sedan was at fault. The man in the wheelchair was taken to University Medical Center with complaints of back, head, and elbow pain; though his injuries do not appear to be life-threatening.

When the offending driver is located, he will not only face criminal prosecution, but also could be named as a defendant in a personal injury lawsuit filed by the man in the wheelchair. The victim may be entitled to collect funds for reimbursement of medical expenses, lost wages from work absenteeism, and replacement or repair costs for his wheelchair.