Who is at fault in fatal motor vehicle accidents?

It is incredibly sad to lose a loved one in a car accident. Fatal motor vehicle accidents are something that no one thinks could happen to them or someone they know. Unfortunately, no one can ever know when an accident will occur. A recent fatal accident in Missouri is still under investigation to determine who was at fault.

The accident occurred on a recent Saturday afternoon at around 3:55 p.m. at an intersection in Columbia. A 15-year-old with permit was driving a Nissan sedan with two passengers, ages 48 and 9. The Nissan was struck on the passenger side when making a left turn by a Ford sedan driven by a 30-year-old female and containing four children passengers.

The individuals in the Nissan were all taken to a nearby hospital. The driver suffered serious injuries and the 9-year-old passenger was in critical condition; the 48-year-old passenger was in critical condition and later was pronounced dead. The driver of the Ford suffered moderate injuries. The police department does not suspect drugs or alcohol to have been a factor in the accident. The investigation has not yet resulted in charges against any driver.

With regard to fatal Missouri fatal accidents, when a driver is deemed negligent, the victim has the right to pursue a lawsuit in a civil court. If the victim died, his or her surviving family may pursue a wrongful death claim against the driver believed responsible and any other party with an ownership interest in the vehicle operated by that driver. A successful claim may result in monetary compensation for losses related to the accident, including medical costs, funeral expenses and other losses based on evidence pertaining to the accident.

Source: columbiatribune.com, “Columbia resident killed in Scott Boulevard car accident“, Sept. 21, 2015