A double-tragedy took place recently in North Carolina. A car accident resulted in the loss of one life. In the aftermath of that accident, another death occurred.
The first incident happened on a recent Tuesday when a pickup truck towing a ski boat was traveling through a local golf community. The pickup was being driven by a 29-year-old male. Apparently, the ski boat he was towing was also carrying several occupants at the time.
According to reports, as the vehicle was moving along, the boat trailer bounced. A 20-year-old woman who was sitting in the boat at the time was suddenly ejected from the craft and run over after hitting the road. Sadly, she did not survive. Troopers stated that the man driving the pickup truck came to a stop but then fled the scene of the accident. Police went to the man’s place of residence two days later in order to place him under arrest for DWI and hit and run, but he shot and killed himself upon their arrival.
In the state of North Carolina, when the operator of a motor vehicle acts with negligence or commits wrongful actions that result in injury to others, he or she may be held liable for damages. In cases where fatal injuries have occurred, immediate family members of a decedent are able to file a legal claim with a car accident lawyer on behalf of their loved one. Further, if the person deemed at-fault in a car accident also becomes deceased, a lawsuit can be filed against his or her estate. Funeral expenses and other costs related to an accident can bring sudden and undue financial stress upon a grieving family; this can be alleviated through a compensatory award that would be issued by the court in a successfully litigated case.
