The sheer size and weight of semi trailers pose a deadly threat to occupants of passenger vehicles. Big rig vs. car accidents more often than not result in loss of lives and/or catastrophic injuries. One such crash in Ohio caused the death of one person and led to criminal charges against another.
According to authorities, the fatal accident occurred on Interstate 275 in the early morning hours of a recent Sunday morning. An accident report indicates that a 31-year-old semi-truck driver lost control of his vehicle in a curve on the interstate. Reportedly, the big rig traveled across the center median and smashed into a pickup truck that was heading in the opposite direction.
The 35-year-old pickup truck driver suffered fatal injuries and died at the accident scene. Emergency workers transported a 30-year-old pickup truck passenger to a medical facility for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The semi-truck driver’s injuries were also not serious, and officers arrested him upon his release from the hospital. He is now facing a charge of vehicular manslaughter.
Whenever people die in semi-truck vs. car accidents, families who lost loved ones may be entitled to seek recovery of damages sustained. Not only can they pursue relief to cover the expenses related to end-of-life arrangements but also the emotional damages they suffered. To do this, they may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit in an Ohio civil court. Negligence will have to be established, and this process may be easier for the plaintiffs if the truck driver is convicted in criminal court. Once liability is formally established in civil court, documented claims for financial losses will be adjudicated for inclusion in a monetary judgment.
Source: therepublic.com, “Semi driver charged in fatal truck collision along I-275”, Dec. 11, 2016