New Year’s Day 2013 was a tragic day for one Connecticut family. A fatal accident in the early morning hours claimed the life of a 21-year-old passenger in an SUV.
The crash occurred when the driver of the SUV, a 22-year-old Long Island City resident, veered and hit a tree. The vehicle flipped onto its roof. While the driver and the front seat passenger were treated for injuries at William W. Backus hospital and released, the back seat passenger was thrown from the vehicle in the accident and died.
The young man who drove the SUV into the tree faces second-degree manslaughter charges as well as driving while under the influence. He turned himself in to authorities and was released after posting $75,000 bail, with a court appearance scheduled for later this month.
Unfortunately, a steep bail amount and criminal charges can never make up for the loss of a loved one a family will have to endure, particularly when a fatal car crash claims such a young victim. But besides the obvious loss of companionship and love a young person brings to a family, an accident will mean medical bills and funeral expenses. There may be a question of lost income, particularly if an accident victim was supporting other family members.
Pursuing a wrongful death claim can help a family through the grieving process by keeping such expenses from becoming overwhelming. When a death occurs due to another party’s negligence – for example, when an intoxicated driver allows others to ride in the car and then causes a fatal accident – surviving family members may want to consider speaking with a legal professional about their ability to seek compensation from the negligent party.
Source: The Hartford Courant, “Former Plainfield Man Arrested In New Year’s Day Fatal Crash,” Christine Dempsey, Jan. 7, 2013
