Car accidents: How sad when the victims are at the start of life

A recent fatal accident once again underscores the tragedy that occurs when a young person, just starting out in life, is senselessly killed. Fatal car accidents involving teenagers are a significant concern. The latest collision took the life of an 18-year-old college student and seriously injured the passenger riding with her. 

At around 1 p.m. on a recent Sunday, the driver of a sedan crossed over the median of Interstate 57 into oncoming traffic, causing a head-on accident with a jeep. The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville student was driving the jeep. She succumbed to her injuries that day. Her 18-year-old passenger in the jeep was seriously injured and was airlifted to the hospital. The 25-year-old car driver and a passenger escaped serious injury in the crash.

The surviving families of the deceased and seriously injured victims appear to have grounds to file civil claims against the driver of the car, as well as any separate owner of the vehicle. It makes sense to arrange a free consultation with an attorney experienced in handling claims arising from serious collisions. Many personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, which means that legal fees are only due once the case is settled or results in a monetary judgment after trial. The fees are then deducted from the amount recovered is paid to the client.

Illinois law allows for victims of car accidents caused by the negligence of another party, or the legal estate of deceased victims, to file claims for monetary damages. Should evidence document that driver negligence was responsible for an accident, a civil court may award monetary damages to the aggrieved parties. An attorney can provide compassionate guidance and support every step of the way.

Source: stltoday.com, “SIUE student killed when car crosses interstate median, hits her jeep head on“, Nassim Benchabaane, June 12, 2017