There are few reasons motorists would stop on a highway, interstate or turnpike, and most of them are what they would consider emergencies. Mechanical issues probably top that list. The problem is that car trouble can lead to serious vehicle accidents, mostly due to the speeds at which the other traffic travels on these types of roadways. Impacts are more severe, which makes the people involved more vulnerable to severe or fatal injuries.
On a recent Monday night at about 9:40 p.m., Ohio State Highway Patrol officers responded to a three-vehicle crash on the Ohio Turnpike. Preliminary reports indicate that one vehicle had stopped, but was not completely on the shoulder. The 36-year-old driver of a second vehicle put on his vehicle’s emergency flashers and pulled over to see whether he could help.
In the meantime, a tractor-trailer approached the scene and hit the second vehicle. It then went on to slam into the person from the first vehicle, who had gotten out of it. The pedestrian suffered severe injuries in the impact that turned out to be fatal. That victim’s identity remained unreported at the time while police worked to notify his or her next of kin.
Those surviving family members may exercise their right to file a wrongful death claim against the appropriate parties. It obviously will not bring back their loved one, but it could help in recovering some of the financial losses associated with fatal vehicle accidents. In order to prevail in such a claim, it will be necessary to prove to an Ohio civil court that the negligence of another party or parties led to the death of the victim.
