The sudden death of a loved one can be challenging for any Pennsylvania family. This is especially true when the family member is unexpectedly killed in an auto accident that appears to have been preventable. In addition to leading to emotional trauma, such a tragedy can also lead to financial and legal challenges.
One family received the shocking news of the death of an 83-year-old loved one in an auto accident on a recent Tuesday morning. A coroner’s report says the elderly driver was southbound on a local road when a pickup truck veered across into his lane from the northbound side of the road. The pickup truck smashed head on into the southbound vehicle.
There were no passengers in either vehicle. The injuries to the elderly driver were fatal, and he was declared dead at the accident scene. The driver of the pickup truck was transported to a medical facility, but his condition is unknown. The Pennsylvania State Police will work to determine the reason for the pickup truck crossing the center line, while an autopsy will determine the cause of the death of the elderly man.
Although the media report made no mention of charges filed, charges may follow when the accident investigation is completed. After the loss of a loved one in an auto accident that is suspected to have been caused by the negligence of another party, the surviving family members may pursue compensation. If sufficient evidence of negligence is documented and successfully presented in a Pennsylvania civil court, a wrongful death claim may lead to compensation. The court may award compensation for medical expenses resulting from treatment that occurred prior to death — if applicable — and end-of-life costs, along with possible compensation for loss of companionship.
Source: lehighvalleylive.com, “83-year-old pronounced dead after head-on Saylorsburg accident, coroner says“, Kurt Bresswein, May 5, 2015