While most everyone is aware of their and their loved one’s mortality, the sudden loss of a life is almost always a shock. Unfortunately, in many cases, the only thing protecting a person from serious injury or death is two lines of yellow paint on the center of the road. One slight miscalculation or tiny distraction can instantly create tragedy. For those who have lost a loved one in this manner, civil litigation in the form of a wrongful death suit filed in a North Carolina court may be appropriate.
One family may be looking into this option after a fatal car accident took the life of a young woman. Police claim that the 31-year-old woman was driving on a North Carolina road in the early morning hours of a day in late March. A vehicle driven by a 34-year-old man was approaching her from the opposite direction.
Reports indicate that the male driver crossed the center line. As a result, the two vehicles collided head on. Both drivers died at the scene of the accident. The road was closed for several hours after the accident.
In addition to grief, the loved ones of the deceased are likely facing unexpected financial burdens. For example, they must cope with the cost of a funeral in addition to coping with lost wages. If the family of the deceased woman can successfully argue in a wrongful death case that their loved one’s death was caused by the negligence of the driver of the other car, they could be awarded monetary damages by a North Carolina civil court to help cover the expenses stemming from the accident. Such an award can help them focus on their emotional recovery instead of their financial burdens.
Source: wbtv.com, “Two killed in Friday morning wreck south of Salisbury“, David Whisenant, March 28, 2014