Whether it is a double yellow line or a median, crossing over into the opposing lane of travel on Ohio’s roads is dangerous. Drivers can end up in the wrong lane due to distraction, impairment or simple carelessness, and it is often the occupants of the other vehicle who pay the price. Families change forever in the instant it takes for these often serious or deadly car accidents to take place.
For instance, it took only seconds for the family of a 40-year-old Ohio man to change. It was in those seconds that the driver of a box truck made a critical error. As the victim and the box truck driver moved toward each other on U.S. Highway 127, the box truck veered into the oncoming lane already occupied by the victim’s SUV.
The impact was violent enough to push the heavy Chevy Suburban driven by the victim through a guardrail. It then came to rest on its side. The driver failed to survive the injuries he suffered in the impact. The box truck driver survived, and emergency medical personnel transported him to an area hospital by helicopter. Until the investigation into this tragedy is complete, it is not known whether the surviving driver will face criminal charges in connection with the crash.
Regardless, the victim’s family retains the right to file a wrongful death claim seeking restitution for the financial and other losses associated with his death. Proving to the court that negligence on the other driver’s part led to his death could result in a monetary judgment for damages often awarded in cases involving fatal car accidents. Such an award could help restore the family’s financial losses as they move forward.
Source: hometownstations.com, “Celina man killed in two vehicle crash“, J. Sharpe, March 16, 2018
