An Ohio family is awaiting answers after a fatal two-vehicle collision took the lives of a grandfather and granddaughter. The rear-end collision also injured the grandmother and younger sister of the now-deceased little girl. The grandmother was reportedly released from the hospital, but the surviving sister’s condition was listed as serious.
The crash happened as the vehicle occupied by the grandparents and grandchildren had come to a stop to turn left. An SUV driven by a 54-year-old man collided with the back of the other vehicle, and police believe that impairment, either by alcohol or drugs, was a factor.
As of Oct. 12, no criminal charges had been filed against the SUV driver, who has reportedly been arrested for DUI in the past. Police were awaiting the results of toxicology testing.
When impaired driving or some other form of negligence takes the life of a family member, those left behind to grieve often don’t know where to turn. A criminal conviction can offer some measure of solace, but a grieving family may need to bring a wrongful death lawsuit to hold the responsible party accountable.
A wrongful death claim can lead to compensation for emotional and economic losses, including the following:
- Mental anguish
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of the earning capacity of the deceased
- Loss of any inheritance the deceased might have received
- Loss of any services the deceased might have provided
Families may also seek compensation for the pain and suffering the deceased experienced before passing.
To learn more about the legal steps to take after losing a loved one because of another party’s carelessness, please visit our wrongful death overview.
Source: WHIO.com, “OSP: Impairment suspected in fatal crash,” Oct. 13, 2014