A group of Ohio high school athletes were en route to an athletic competition when a fatal accident stopped them in their tracks. The driver of their vehicle was apparently responsible for the wreck in which several suffered serious injuries and at least one teenager was killed. Although it does not appear as if any legal action has been taken yet, personal injury and wrongful death claims are common in the aftermath of serious car accidents.
The multi-passenger van held multiple members of a high school’s water polo team, who were traveling with some of their family members to a tournament that was taking place out of town. Police believe that the driver of the van did not yield the right of way to an 18-wheeler, cutting off the large tractor trailer by pulling in front of it. The tractor trailer was unable to avoid a collision and both vehicles ended up in a nearby ditch.
A 19-year-old woman who was likely a family member of one of the athletes was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Four teenagers suffered injuries that were described as life-threatening, and the girls — aged 14 to 17 years old — were hospitalized. The van driver was also injured, although everyone else involved in the wreck apparently survived unscathed.
Suffering an injury can be an extremely traumatizing moment for anyone, but it can be even more stressful for athletes who rely on their bodies to compete. Personal injury and wrongful death claims are designed to help victims and their families in Ohio recover compensation for these types of traumatizing events, based upon appropriate evidence of negligence. When successfully navigated to completion, legal recourse can cover medical bills, pain and suffering and the long-lasting mental anguish of dealing with an injury.
Source: ABC News, “Teen Dies in Crash En Route to High School Water Polo Tournament“, Emily Shapiro, Aug. 12, 2016
