When car crashes involving pedestrians happen, the likelihood that victims will suffer severe injuries is much higher than if they’d been traveling in another vehicle. For this reason, it is of the utmost importance that drivers who are in the vicinity of pedestrians pay careful attention to their surroundings to ensure that everyone stays safe. Unfortunately, Ohio authorities say this is not what happened in a recent fatal accident that claimed one life and hurt another person.
Reportedly, the incident happened on a recent evening in Columbus. The driver allegedly veered into the oncoming lane and ended up on the opposite shoulder of the road. From there, officials say that he ran into a woman, hit a tree. The vehicle then collided with another person walking next to his bicycle. The woman died on the scene, and the second person had to be rushed to a nearby hospital where he remains in serious but stable condition.
Police have charged the driver with aggravated vehicular homicide along with aggravated vehicular assault. It is not known if he is currently in custody. Police have not announced whether there were any contributing factors that might have caused the crash.
The family of the Ohio victim who died may choose to file a wrongful death claim against the driver, no matter the outcome of any criminal charges he is facing. A successful civil claim may result in financial remuneration that could be useful in covering funeral costs, unpaid medical bills and other expenses that the family might be facing after this fatal accident. It could be a way for them to actively pursue some sense of justice and begin the healing process after such a terrible loss. Similarly, the seriously injured man has the right to litigate a personal injury claim based upon evidence of driver negligence.
Source: wfmj.com, “Ohio man to face charges in fatal auto accident”, , Aug. 6, 2014