TC Palm, part of the USA Today Network, reported on June 12, 2018, that an Indian River car crash caused a woman passenger to die. The Florida car accident forced traffic on the northbound direction of I-95 around Vero Beach to be shut down.
According to the state police, the 50-year old woman passenger, who was riding in an SUV, was thrown from her vehicle. The investigation revealed that the woman who died was not wearing her seatbelt. She died before the Indian River County Fire Rescue arrived.
The SUV driver only suffered minor injuries. Two other passengers in the SUV did suffer serious injuries. The driver and two surviving passengers were wearing their seatbelts. The three survivors were all taken to a nearby hospital.
The driver of the SUV was a 23-year old woman who lost control of the vehicle. The SUV flipped over and landed on its wheels in another lane. The accident happened around 9:45 in the morning.
Types of Florida car accident claims in this type of case
In this kind of case, the family of the woman died has the right to file a wrongful death action against the SUV driver. The wrongful death claim will be brought by the personal representative of the deceased. The beneficiaries will likely be her spouse, children, and parents.
Wrongful death claims
When someone dies due to the fault of another, such as occurred in the Vero Beach accident, the personal representative can demand payment for:
- The cost of the funeral and the burial advanced by the estate
- The value of the loss of services and support the deceased would have given each family member
- The value of the lost companionship, protection, and guidance the deceased would have given family members.
- The financial worth of the wages, benefits, and other items of value the deceased would have earned if she had survived
- Additional damages that an experienced wrongful death lawyer can explain
In wrongful death cases, parents generally can claim compensation for the pain and anguish of losing a child. If the wrongdoer was reckless, then the wrongful death claim could include a claim for recklessness.
Personal injury claims
The surviving passengers of the Florida car accident could each file their own personal injury claim. The claim would be based on the negligent actions of the driver that caused her to overturn the SUV.
Typical damage elements in personal injury cases include:
- Any lost wages or income due to not being able to work because of the injuries
- The cost of all surgeries, doctor visits, treatments with psychologists and psychiatrists, and medical care from various health therapists and counselors.
- The expense for all medications
- The cost of all medical devices such as prosthetics and wheelchairs
- The physical pain and emotional suffering of each victim
Experienced Sebastian and Vero Beach Florida car accidents have the experience and resources to help victims get justice.