Often in this blog we discuss some of the most egregious causes of traffic accidents. Drunk driving, for example, takes countless lives across Pennsylvania and injures many more. Distracted driving is another common cause of car accidents causing injury or death. But sometimes there’s no obvious cause to point to when investigators are determining what led to a fatal accident. In those cases, victims or their families may have a more difficult time seeking compensation for their pain and suffering.
The investigation is continuing in one recent car accident, which happened Friday near the western Pennsylvania border. According to police, a 31-year-old man was driving his car on U.S. Route 22 in Pulaski Township when he veered across the opposing lane of traffic and hit the guardrail. The car then ricocheted off the guardrail and collided head-on with a pickup truck.
The driver of the truck, a 62-year-old Ohio man, was killed in the accident. So was the passenger in the front seat of the car, a 60-year-old man from New Castle, Pennsylvania. The driver himself was critically injured in the crash and rushed to a hospital immediately afterward.
The Pennsylvania State Police are assisting local officials in the investigation of the crash to determine why the driver suddenly left his own lane of traffic. If their findings suggest that neglect played a role, the car driver could find himself on the wrong end of a civil wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for the fatal victims’ families.
Accidents without an immediately clear cause can be tough on victims and survivors. Awaiting the conclusion of an investigation and feeling uncertain about the prospects of a civil lawsuit can cause considerable stress, which only adds to the injuries or emotional losses they’ve suffered. This is where a consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney can come in handy. Having someone who understands what you’re going through and can determine the strength of your case often makes the decision of whether to file a civil lawsuit easier.
Source : WYTV, “2 Victims Identified in Pulaski Crash,” Nov. 29, 2012
- Our firm handles situations similar to the one described in this post. To learn more about our practice, visit our Harrisburg car accident page.