Teenagers often have grand plans for their future. Regardless of whether their plans include a college education or the size of their families, they typically have something to which they look forward. Unfortunately, any plans a California teen may have had have come to an end after she died in a car crash. Her surviving family members may choose to file a wrongful death lawsuit as a result of the crash.
The incident happened one evening on a day in late September. Reports indicate that the 19-year-old victim was a passenger in a sedan traveling north on a California highway. Police say that the driver of the vehicle, a 20-year-old man, admitted that he lost control, causing the vehicle to exit the roadway before flipping several times.
Both occupants were trapped inside the vehicle and required extrication. The female passenger died at the scene while the male driver was transported to the hospital for treatment of what reports describe as minor injuries. While the incident remains under investigation, police do not believe that drugs or alcohol contributed to the crash.
No family is emotionally prepared for the news of the unexpected death of their loved one. Often, grieving families also face financial complications as a result of funeral bills and lost wages. To help cope with these expenses, some in California choose to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver they feel caused their loved one’s death. If they can prove that negligence caused the accident and resulting death, the court could order the responsible party to pay surviving family members damages to help them manage the financial consequences of their loss.
Source: mercedsunstar.com, “Teenager killed in Merced County crash just off of highway“, Thaddeus Miller and Rob Parsons, Sept. 28, 2017
