Fatal Car Accidents
Car accidents are a leading cause of injury across the nation, and they are also one of the most common causes of death. Fatal car accidents can result in catastrophic emotional damages as well as steep financial losses.
For surviving family members dealing with the aftermath of a fatal car crash, a wrongful death lawsuit provides the opportunity to seek financial compensation for damages, so that they can focus on their grief and emotional recovery. Car accident lawyer Hardin Ramey can assist victims in Dallas, TX, and surrounding areas in holding liable parties accountable for losses related to a fatal car crash.
How Common Are Fatal Car Accidents?
Most people are aware that they face the risk of a car crash anytime they are on the road, but it can be concerning to think about how many of the accidents that occur each year are fatal. According to data reported by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, or IIHS, there were 33,244 fatal car accidents in the United States in 2019. These crashes were the cause of 39,096 deaths.
Statewide, the number of fatal car accidents in 2019 varied. Texas recorded one of the highest number of car accident related deaths. Texas reported 3,294 fatal car crashes for the year, which were the result of 3,615 deaths. This amounts to 12.5 deaths per 100,000 Texas residents, and 1.25 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, both of which are over the national death rate of 11 per 100,000 people and 1.1 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.
Causes of Fatal Car Accidents
Just as with any other type of collision, the causes of fatal car crashes are varied. Some of the most common causes include:
- Speeding
- Failure to adhere to posted traffic signs/signals
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
While any type of accident has the potential to result in death, it is especially likely if vehicles are traveling at high speeds at the time of the crash, or if safety equipment (such as seatbelts and airbags) are not used or deployed properly. Some types of vehicles, like motorcycles, are also more likely to result in fatalities in the event of an accident.
Damages Stemming from Fatal Car Crashes
Any car accident that results in injuries is likely to leave victims suffering from emotional, physical, and financial damages. Those damages are even greater when an accident is fatal. Fatal car crashes cause losses not only for the accident victim, but also their surviving loved ones. Common damages in a fatal car crash include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of income source and/or benefits
- Loss of consortium, or loss of companionship
Holding Liable Parties Accountable
It is important to hold liable parties accountable when a fatal car crash occurs. However, if the victim is killed, they are not able to seek the financial compensation that they, or their family members, are due. Instead, descendants of the deceased can file a wrongful death lawsuit. In Dallas, a wrongful death lawsuit can be filed by the:
- Spouse or domestic partner of the deceased
- Children of the deceased
- Parents of the deceased
Get In Touch
If you have lost a family member to a fatal car accident, it is important that you are justly compensated for your losses. To explore your right to financial damages, we encourage you to get in touch with attorney Hardin Ramey. We invite you to send us a message online, or call our Dallas law firm at (972) 437-5577.
