On behalf of Strom & Associates, Ltd. posted in Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents on Wednesday, December 31, 2014.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department reported that a collision that occurred on Dec. 14 around 2:30 p.m. claimed the life of a cheer coach at Woodlawn Elementary. According to reports, the accident happened on Route 15 near Driver’s Lane.
The 22-year-old woman was a passenger in a vehicle being driven by a 22-year-old Mt. Vernon woman. Another vehicle, being driven by a 29-year-old Herrin man, was apparently headed east on the highway when the man’s vehicle suddenly veered into the path of the woman’s car. The man collided head-on into the car as a result.
The coach was pronounced dead by a coroner. Two passengers in the man’s vehicle were transported to the hospital for treatment of injuries, as was a second passenger in the Mt. Vernon woman’s car. The man was ticketed for improper lane use, but officers said it is unclear what caused the accident. They do not believe the man was under the influence of alcohol and indicated his car may have suffered a mechanical failure resulting in a loss of control. The accident is still under investigation at this time.
When a person dies in a car accident caused by a negligent driver, his or her family may be able to recover damages from the negligent driver by filing a wrongful death civil lawsuit. Although recoverable damages depend on the facts and circumstances of each individual case, examples of damages that may be available include pain and suffering, medical bills, foreseeable funeral and burial expenses, lost inheritance rights, current and future expected income losses, loss of companionship and counseling and bereavement expenses. The families of people who are wrongfully killed in motor vehicle accidents may be able to get more information by consulting with a personal injury attorney.
Source: WSILTV, “Woodlawn Coach Killed in Route 15 Crash“, Matthew Searcy, December 15, 2014
