Car crashes come unexpectedly and can seriously impact the lives of those involved. This is especially true for fatal motor vehicle accidents, which are still a major problem on U.S. roads.
Fatal traffic crashes still an issue in the United States
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of fatal traffic accidents in the United States increased from January 1 to June 30, 2022. Specifically, in the northeast, there was an 11% increase in traffic fatalities. However, the fatality rate in the United States went down slightly in the first half of 2022 from the fatality rate in the first half of 2021.
Efforts are being made to address traffic safety in the United States. Initiatives are underway that aim to educate drivers about the dangers of speeding, texting and driving and other risky actions behind the wheel. Efforts are also being made to improve road infrastructure and to make vehicles safer.
Fatal crashes and wrongful death
A fatal crash not only impacts the person who loses their life but also the loved ones left behind. If your spouse is killed in a motor vehicle accident, you can soon find yourself struggling financially. Not only have you lost the income and services your spouse contributed to the household but you are also likely trying to cope with medical bills and funeral expenses. It is a difficult situation to find yourself in.
Rhode Island law offers some recourse for those who lose a loved one due to the negligence or willfulness of another, for example, in a car crash. In such situations, the survivors may be able to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit.
Wrongful death suits compensate the plaintiffs for damages suffered when a loved one is killed due to the negligence or willfulness of the defendant. Possible damages recovered can include compensation for medical expenses, funeral expenses, lost wages and loss of consortium.
Losing a loved one in a preventable car crash is heartbreaking, and this suffering is only compounded by the many expenses you are burdened with because of the death. Wrongful death claims are one way to try to heal financially when such incidents occur.