Most people take basic traffic rules for granted. For example, stop signs that impede our commute to work are often considered nuisances. However, such traffic rules are in place to save lives, and failure to follow them can lead to death or serious injury. After a fatal accident in North Carolina allegedly due to a driver failing to obey a traffic sign, one man’s family has the option of filing a wrongful death case.
The accident occurred on the morning of July 15. A 37-year-old man was driving a pickup truck pulling a horse trailer. Preliminary reports suggest the man failed to stop at a stop sign, causing him to plow into a small sedan driven by a 54-year-old man.
The driver of the sedan was killed in the accident. The driver of the truck, as well as a passenger, was transported to an area hospital for treatment. Once the investigation has been completed, the driver of the truck could end up facing criminal charges based on how it appears the accident occurred.
Even without criminal charges, the family of the deceased can seek legal recourse by filing a wrongful death case in a North Carolina civil court. While it will do little to help with the grief they are experiencing, it could help with any stress the family has regarding their financial future. If the court rules that the man’s death was a result of the other driver’s negligence, it could award monetary compensation to help cover the financial burden of funeral expenses and loss of income.
Source: wnct.com, “One dead in Pitt County Accident,” Stephen McNulty, July 15, 2013