Ohio adults assume a certain amount of risk voluntarily when they get into their vehicles, but children often have no choice. Their parents, guardians or those watching them for the day assume the risk on behalf of the children in their charge. The problem is that car accidents do not discriminate. Even the youngest passengers can suffer serious injuries or lose their lives due to circumstances out of their control.
In a crash that took place on a recent Monday night, a mother put her 14-month-old child into a vehicle and set off for their destination. By approximately 9:30 p.m. that night, they both lost their lives on Ohio 134 South. According to the preliminary report from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, a 16-year-old driver attempted to pass a second vehicle driven by a 63-year-old man.
Unfortunately, the young driver struck the second vehicle. This caused the 20-year-old mother to swerve left into the oncoming lane of travel where it and another vehicle collided head-on. Another vehicle then struck the young mother’s vehicle, which then caught fire. Two other people suffered injuries in this tragedy, including the teenage driver who started it all.
While the investigation continues and the families of the deceased victims grieve, surviving family members could exercise the right to file wrongful death claims against the party or parties who may bear legal responsibility in this crash. As is the case in other cases involving fatal car accidents, they will need to provide the court with evidence proving that the negligence of another party or parties led to the deaths of their loved ones. If the court rules in their favor, an award of damages could give some sense of closure and restitution that could help with the financial losses incurred in the aftermath of this tragic event.
