Rural Head-On Accident Wrongful Death Accidents

December 30, 2019

Rural highways have more fatalities than urban roads, according to a study from the National Transportation Highway Safety Administration. Only 21 percent of all drivers live in rural areas, yet rural roads account for around 57 percent of all fatalities. Of those fatalities, 13 percent are attributed to head-on crashes.

Wrong Way Driver hits Van Killing Two and Injuring Four

A Toyota Prius that was traveling on the wrong side of US 395 just south of Lind and struck a Dodge Caravan carrying a family of six. The driver of the Prius and a 34-year-old woman in the Caravan died, and four children were injured.

According to the Washington State Patrol, all four children were injured and transported to the hospital, and one of the children was airlifted to Spokane’s Sacred Heart Hospital. The accident is still under investigation, and no update on the condition of the injured has been reported.

Wrongful Death Accidents

Any accident involving an injury can bring difficulty and hardship to the family of the victims, and is even more apparent when one of the injured succumbs to their injury. Under Washington law, when someone negligently causes an accident, they are liable for all injuries and damages, and those injured can file a personal injury suit.

When any of the victims die in an accident, then their surviving family members can file a wrongful death claim. This is a bit different from a typical personal injury claim primarily because of who can make a claim for damages.

In a typical personal injury suit, the injured makes the claim, however, if the injured has passed away, he or she can no longer make a personal injury claim. This right falls on those left behind, and any damages for the wrongful death are looked at from the loss of the loved one suffered by the family.

Types of Damages Allowed in a Wrongful Death

Each of the surviving family members can bring a wrongful death claim based on their own personal losses from losing their loved one. Each surviving member can make their own claims. Some of the most common sought under Washington law are:

  • Medical bills before death: Only those owed by the estate of the deceased can be claimed as a loss.
  • Loss of income: Each person that was financially dependent on the deceased can claim loss of income.
  • Psychological pain and suffering: Those surviving members can claim personal psychological and mental anguish over the loss of their loved one.
  • Loss of companionship and guidance: This is typically claimed by dependent children robbed of a parent.
  • Loss of Consortium and companionship: A surviving spouse can claim loss of consortium based on the physical intimacy they lost because of the accident.
  • Funeral and burial costs: Based on the reasonable costs to the family for burying the deceased.

 Contact a Spokane Wrongful Death Attorney

Established in Spokane in 1948, Crary, Clark, Domanico, & Chuang, P.S. is committed to providing our clients with the absolute highest quality legal representation. If our Spokane Wrongful Death Attorney represents you for your accident case, you have our assurance that we will use our absolute best efforts to win your case. Contact us after any accident resulting in a serious injury for a free, confidential consultation and case evaluation. We will only offer you advice which is in your best interest.

 

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