10/03/2012 // NYC, NY, USA // New York Injury Accident Lawyer // Jonathan C. Reiter // (press release)
An SUV, owned by Andrew Zaro, a wealthy businessman, and operated by one of Mr. Zaro’s employees, struck and killed a well-known Catholic nun, Sister Jacqueline Walsh aged 59, in the Hamptons, Long Island, on July 16, 2012. The 28-year-old employee is a Guatemalan immigrant who works for Mr. Zaro as a landscaper. He was driving the SUV, a Volkswagen Toureg, with the permission of Mr. Zaro, but may not have had a valid driver’s license since 2010. Following the accident, the driver drove approximately one-half mile away, where he abandoned the vehicle in a driveway, and took off on foot. The police are searching for the driver.
The victim, Sister Walsh was walking down Rose Hill Road after spending a day in retreat at the Sisters of Mercy retreat house, when the accident occurred at 8:30 p.m. Mr. Zaro’s home is located on Rose Hill Road as well.
Mr. Zaro reported to the police, that his employee called him following the accident. Mr. Zaro urged his employee to turn himself in.
According to Jonathan C. Reiter, a New York City pedestrian accident attorney, who has handled many pedestrian accidents, “the liability insurance covers the car, and any driver that is given permission by the owner to operate the car. In this tragic case, there is no question that Mr. Zaro gave permission to use the car. What is highly relevant in this case, is the manner in which the accident occurred, where Sister Walsh was walking on the road, what the lighting conditions were, and whether the driver of the SUV was driving in a reckless or negligent manner. The fact that the driver ran away from this accident implies guilt, and can be used as evidence in a possible lawsuit, against both the driver and the owner of the vehicle.”
Mr. Reiter went on to state: “The fact that the driver of the vehicle did not have a valid driver’s license does not prevent a recovery against the owner of the vehicle. Under New York State law, since the owner of the vehicle gave permission to his employee, the owner’s insurance company is required to cover the losses that result from the negligent operation of this vehicle.”
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