Losing a family member to an automobile accident is always tragic. This can be particularly true when the victim is a young child. Though nothing can replace the loss of life, a surviving family may seek closure through filing a wrongful death claim in civil court. One Pennsylvania family may be looking into their legal options after a young boy was recently killed in a hit-and-run crash.
According to police, the victims were in a vehicle whose driver was attempting to make a left turn when the car was struck by a van. Witnesses claim that the driver of the van got out of the vehicle to check the damage before getting back inside and driving away. In his attempt to leave, his van struck a parked vehicle before continuing westward.
The impact of the first crash demolished the victims’ car. The driver was rushed to the hospital with chest pains. The young boy who was in the car was taken to another hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. Police were able to identify the driver and take him into custody. The man has since been charged with multiple charges, including homicide by vehicle and involuntary manslaughter.
Whether drivers believed to be responsible for fatal car accidents face criminal charges, surviving families may still be entitled to file wrongful death claims in civil court against those drivers. When this type of claim successfully proves negligence on behalf of a defendant, plaintiffs are then typically awarded monetary damages that can be used to help pay medical bills, funeral costs or any other related expenses. Anyone interested in learning more about this type of claim can consult an experienced Pennsylvania attorney for more information.
Source: 6abc.com, “Man charged after boy, 8, killed in Feltonville hit-and-run“, Dann Cuellar, Dec. 21, 2017