Trib Local is reporting a head-on collision that resulted in one death. The accident occurred when a driver, a 24-year-old woman, crossed the center line of Route 30 at approximately 6pm on December 28. The car, travelling eastbound, collided head-on with a westbound car. The passenger in the eastbound vehicle, Jared Harrell, 21, was pronounced dead at the scene. The drivers of the vehicles were treated and released. While police found no evidence of alcohol impairment, they continue to investigate the accident.
Wrongful death lawsuits are a heartbreaking endeavor. Rarely does the death of a loved one come in a more surprising manner than in some sort of accident. However, those who survive the accident victim are entitled to compensation for that death. A good wrongful death attorney can relieve the families of the victim of the burden of their lawsuit, fighting on their behalf and on behalf of the deceased. In wrongful death cases, it is important to know who is suing, and for what.
Wrongful Death and the Victim
When someone is involved in a car accident, he is often injured. Ordinarily, the injured party would begin the process of the lawsuit right there by contacting a personal injury attorney. If some other party was at fault for the accident, the injured would be able to receive compensation for lost wages, pain and suffering, and treatment of the injury. In wrongful death cases, however, the victim cannot pursue the claim for his injuries. This is where survival statutes come in. In Illinois, if someone dies from someone’s negligence, the lawsuit that the victim might have filed may become part of his estate, and the estate would be able to pursue the suit on behalf of the victim.
Wrongful Death and the Survivors
That is all well and good for the estate, but what of the victim’s family? Spouses lose the comfort and companionship that the victim provided. Children lose the upbringing that the victim would have been around to give. There is also the more tangible loss of the income the victim would have earned over the length of his career. For all of this, the survivors of the victim can sue on their own behalf to attempt to make up for these losses.
Contact an Illinois Wrongful Death Attorney
Those who negligently cause accidents should have to pay for the injuries they cause, be they physical, emotional, or financial. An experienced Chicago personal injury attorney can establish fault and the extent of injury, and can fight on your behalf for your loss. If you or a loved one has been injured in an automobile accident, do not wait. Call to speak to an attorney today or contact us online.
