A man died in a three-vehicle crash in North Carolina on June 7. Troopers say the accident happened on U.S. 264 in Nash County around 5 a.m.
The 27-year-old man was heading east when he rear-ended a truck. His car rolled over, and one of the front wheels caught fire. The truck fled from the scene for an unknown reason, and then the driver of a FedEx truck came to a stop to call in the accident. Meanwhile, a semi-truck driver maneuvered to go around the FedEx truck and ended up hitting the fiery car.
Motor vehicle accidents that involve semi-trucks have the potential to cause more than just whiplash, broken bones and similar injuries. Many accidents, such as the one in this case, also cause fatal injuries that may significantly impact the lives of the victims’ families and dependents. This is why North Carolina has laws that give survivors the right to seek compensation if the negligence of other drivers or companies caused the accidents that killed their loved ones.
It is possible that the victim of this accident may not have suffered fatal injuries until the semi-truck hit his car. If this is the case, the victim’s family or dependents could be entitled to wrongful death compensation. This may help the family recover the expenses of the funeral and loss of income.
Aside from economic damages, the family may also be entitled to compensation for noneconomic damages. This could include the value of the loss of assistance and care, as well as the loss of guidance and companionship. A jury may find that the survivors are entitled to nominal damages as well, while punitive damages could be awarded if the semi-truck driver caused the man’s death through willful or wanton conduct.
Source: WNCN, “1 dead in Nash Co. 3-vehicle crash“, June 08, 2014