With the holiday season underway, many Pennsylvania residents are spending more time with their family and friends. In the midst of this celebration, however, some may be coping with unspeakable tragedies, such as when a loved one is seriously injured or killed in a car crash.
This was unfortunately the case for a Pennsylvania family after a recent accident on Interstate 80. The head-on crash occurred after a construction vehicle jumped the median and crossed to the other side of the roadway. The driver of the truck was ejected and killed, while a 12-year-old boy from the other car that was struck was also killed. The boy’s four family members were flown to local hospitals due to the injuries they also suffered in the crash.
After tragic car collisions like the above, those injured in the crash, or the family members of loved ones who died, may have some recourse they can take against the negligent driver who caused the accident. Through a personal injury lawsuit, the person responsible can be ordered to pay compensation, or damages, to the victims.
Each person who suffered harm in the crash would have a separate claim for damages in cases where multiple individuals are injured. Accordingly, even though there was one crash, different kinds of damages may be available for each individual in the case.
For instance, a parent might have suffered damages for their lost wages, as a result of no longer being able to work. The parent might also have suffered additional damages for injuries or death to a child, while an injured child would have his or her own damages. Each claim and kind of damages should be examined to determine how to hold the other party fully responsible for the tragedy.
Source: The Morning Call, “Crash kills Allentown man, 12-year-old boy on I-80 in Pocono Township,” Frank Warner, Nov. 18, 2016