At 12:30 a.m. on Oct. 29, officials responded to an accident where a westbound truck driver on New Bern Avenue ran a red light and struck an eastbound car in Raleigh. The driver of the truck then allegedly fled the scene.
Two female passengers in the car, aged 18 and 24, died from the injuries that they sustained in the wreck. While the car’s driver reported suffered no injuries in the accident, two other male passengers sustained harm not believed to be life-threatening.
The investigation is ongoing. Police are seeking the help of the public in locating the truck and its driver.
In a fatal car accident, the family of the decedent may be able to recover some monetary compensation for their loss. This could include funeral expenses and any other damages that the accident may have caused. An attorney might be able to help a family prepare a wrongful death claim if it is believed that another individual or party contributed to their loved one’s death.
In hit-and-run accidents, the authorities must first locate the driver of the other vehicle and conduct their own criminal investigation into the incident. If the hit-and-run driver caused the accident, the family could potentially include punitive damages in their wrongful death claim as well. While any criminal charges brought against the accused driver do not affect a civil suit, an attorney may be able to utilize any evidence of negligence while compiling information for their client.
Source: WRAL, “Two killed, three injured in hit-and-run wreck in east Raleigh“, October 31, 2014
