Thanks to the quick thinking and efforts by local police and a number of Good Samaritans, no deaths resulted from a recent accident in Aurora, Colorado, between an automobile and a number of pedestrians.

A 37-year-old woman was crossing East Exposition Avenue along with her 2-year-old daughter and 4-year-old twin sons when a vehicle swept through the intersection, traveling at the posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour, and struck the woman and her daughter.

While the woman and her children were not crossing the street within a crosswalk, they did not jump in front of the oncoming car nor did they intend to get hit. The woman and her children were likely visible while crossing the street and the pedestrian accident quite possibly could have been the result of an inattentive driver.

Following the accident, the woman was pinned under the car with her daughter in her arms. Two police officers and a number of Good Samaritans rushed in to lift the 1-ton vehicle off of the pair.

One of the Good Samaritans recently commented on the crash, saying the scene was horrific and that, with the help of the officers and the other passersby, they were able to lift the vehicle off the woman and her daughter rather easily.

While the twin boys were crossing the road at the same time, they, fortunately, avoided injury.

The 2-year-old was treated for cuts and burns caused by the vehicle's exhaust. Her mother was treated for broken bones and a head injury.

While it does not appear police will charge the driver, that does not mean that he might not be civilly liable for the mother and daughter's conditions. Just because someone doesn't break the law when causing an accident does not mean that he or she still may not be held responsible in civil court.

Source: The Denver Post, "'Heroes' honored for aiding Aurora car-crash victims," Megan Mitchell, Dec. 5, 2012