Drivers who carry passengers in their vehicles must be extra vigilant. Negligence or inattentiveness can have devastating consequences. If passengers are injured or killed in a auto accident, the driver may face the consequences. A tragic accident occurred on Route 258 on a recent Friday morning.
The Pennsylvania State Police report indicated that a 20-year-old man was driving an SUV that left a local roadway and flipped over. The vehicle came to rest in a wooded area. Emergency workers arrived at the scene to find a 21-year-old man trapped by the vehicle. This man was reportedly a passenger in the vehicle. Sadly, he was declared dead at the accident scene.
Officers reported that an injured infant was airlifted to the hospital with injuries of unknown severity. The driver apparently suffered severe injuries to his head, and he was also transported to a hospital by air. The road was reportedly closed for traffic for approximately five hours, and the investigation is ongoing.
The surviving family members of the young man who lost his life in this tragic auto accident retain the right to commence a wrongful death claim against the driver. Similarly, the parents of the infant may pursue financial relief by filing a personal injury claim on behalf of the child. In both claims, negligence will have to be established before a Pennsylvania civil court. Documented claims for monetary damages will be considered once negligence is established by appropriate evidence, and claims may include demands for reimbursement of medical and/or end-of-life expenses along with other financial and emotional losses that were brought about by the crash.
Source: wfmj.com, “Man identified in Mercer County fatal crash“, Dec. 11, 2015