When businesses are located along the side of busy highways, the occupants of vehicles pulling into or out of their driveways are at risk for accidents. If another motorist in the vicinity is not paying attention, that negligence can cause a collision that results in injury to one or more persons. A recent fatal car accident occurred in North Carolina and appears to have been caused by the negligence of one driver, resulting in the loss of one woman’s life.
The tragedy occurred on U.S. 64 east on a recent Saturday. A 50-year-old woman was traveling as a passenger in a pickup truck. Just before 1 p.m., the driver of the pickup reportedly attempted to make a right turn into the driveway of a mobile home dealership. Another pickup, traveling behind the vehicle in which the woman was riding, apparently failed to reduce speed as the driver in front executed the turn.
The rear vehicle seems to have veered off the road, crashing into the passenger side of the turning vehicle. Two occupants in the vehicle that was struck, one of whom was the woman, were transported to an area medical center for emergency care. Sadly, she later succumbed to her injuries.
The person driving the pickup truck has been charged with failure to reduce speed and misdemeanor death. In North Carolina, the law protects immediate family members who survive the death of a loved one caused by the negligence of another by allowing them to file a wrongful death claim on behalf of the deceased. Families are often hit hard with financial debt in the aftermath of a fatal car accident, and compensation awarded by the court in a successfully litigated case can be used to help offset financial losses.
Source: courier-tribune.com, “Randolph woman killed in auto accident“, Larry Penkava, Dec. 28, 2015
