North Carolina residents who have children in the Boy Scouts of America may be interested to learn that a family is suing the organization for the death of their 15-year-old child. The boy reportedly died from heatstroke while on a trip in west Texas in June.
The parents said that the 15-year-old signed up to be a part of a beginners’ backpacking course. However, it appears he ended up on a more difficult trail when temperatures soared to 99 degrees. The teenager collapsed on a remote part of the trail, preventing rescue services from being able to reach him quickly. He was airlifted to a hospital. However, the parents said that they were not told about their son’s death until four hours and 30 minutes later.
According to the lawsuit, the parents blamed the BSA after they learned that the 15-year-old was sent out on the trail with a 14-year-old and an 18-year-old instead of two adults. This violated the BSA’s own policy. Additionally, they said that the camp director should have changed the hiking route due to the extreme heat. The parents are asking for $1 million for their loss.
It is always difficult to lose a loved one, especially if the death could have been prevented. If it is determined that a death was caused by negligence, the victim’s loved ones could file a wrongful death claim against the responsible parties. An attorney could negotiate with the other party out of court to come to an agreement that results in adequate compensation for the loss. If an appropriate agreement cannot be reached, the attorney may litigate on behalf of the surviving family members.