Earlier this week, we wrote about a Chicago wrongful death lawsuit filed on behalf of a passenger who was killed in a single-car crash. When most people imagine lawsuits stemming from car accidents, they usually envision at least two cars with two drivers.
But it is important to remember that the actions of negligent drivers sometimes result in injuries or fatalities to passengers in their own vehicle. In a case similar to the one we wrote about in our last post, an Aurora family recently filed a wrongful death suit against the driver who caused a single-car crash that killed his passenger.
The crash occurred early last month near Oak Brook as the two 29-year-old men were driving back to Aurora. The passenger was thrown from the vehicle after the car “veered off westbound I-88, slammed into a guardrail, and rolled over,” according to a news article. The driver’s injuries were non-life-threatening, but the passenger was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Because this car accident was relatively recent, attorneys are still waiting for the investigation results from the Illinois State Police. The attorney representing the family says that he is awaiting DNA evidence to confirm that the suspected driver was indeed behind the wheel, as well as test results that will reveal whether or not alcohol was a factor in the crash.
But even while this information is pending, the family’s complaint accuses the presumed driver of several negligent behaviors. These include allegations of failing to pay attention, speeding, and failing to keep his vehicle in “proper mechanical and working condition.”
While some information is still unknown, the deceased victim’s loved ones apparently felt that they needed to file a wrongful death lawsuit as soon as possible. A statement from their attorney may shed some light on one reason for their sense of urgency. He said: “It’s devastating to (the victim’s) family. His mother and two sisters had to bury him on what would be his 30th birthday.”
Hopefully, when complete information becomes available, any and all negligent parties will be held liable, and this grieving family can find some sense of closure.
Source: DailyHerald.com, “Wrongful death suit filed in Oak Brook crash,” Josh Stockinger, Dec. 6, 2012