There are many types of vehicles on the road today. They range in size from giant tractor trailers and dump trucks to tiny Mini Coopers and Smart Cars. Unfortunately, a person in a small car that collides with a vehicle that is much larger stands a chance of sustaining serious injury or being killed. While there seems to be a misconception that large vehicles cause many accidents, drivers of these vehicles are often well-trained and experienced. One such accident in North Carolina has recently resulted in a death and an arrest.
The accident occurred in the morning in early January. Police claim that a sedan driven by a 29-year-old man stopped across two lanes of traffic. As a result, a large truck hit the sedan in the passenger side.
The driver of the sedan was treated for minor injuries. Unfortunately, his 27-year-old passenger, who was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, died at the scene. The driver of the truck was not injured. The sedan driver has since been arrested on a misdemeanor charge of death by vehicle.
It is easy for most people to identify with the emotional consequences of the unexpected death of a loved one; however, many people do not fully understand the potential financial consequences. For example, the deceased woman’s family will have to shoulder the unexpected expense of the woman’s funeral and, potentially, the loss of her income. In order to seek help in coping with these expenses, her family has the option of filing a civil case in a North Carolina court. If they can prove that her death was caused by the man’s negligence, they could be awarded damages stemming from the accident that are allowed under state law. While such an award will not alleviate their grief, it can help them focus on their emotional recovery instead of any financial stresses.
Source: wcnc.com, Driver arrested in fatal Graham St. crash, No author, Jan. 6, 2014