Three minors were recently traveling in a vehicle driven by a 32-year-old woman. The driver had no way of knowing that the road trip would be the last for one of her passengers, a 9-year-old girl. Sadly, the child suffered catastrophic injuries that proved fatal when a sudden collision occurred between the woman’s vehicle and a pickup truck on a Texas roadway.
There are yet many unanswered questions about the accident, including why the 18-year-old driver of the pickup truck veered across his lane into oncoming traffic while rounding a curve. The woman with three passengers in her vehicle tried to avoid a collision by sharply turning her wheel, which sent her into an oncoming lane. As the two vehicles careened out of control, the pickup clipped the front end of the woman’s car.
She was wearing a seat belt at the time, unlike two of her passengers. The 16-year-old was listed in critical condition when he was taken to an area hospital for urgent care. The 3-year-old child was also treated at a nearby hospital, as was the driver; both were later released. Sadly, the 9-year-old, who was ejected from the vehicle upon impact, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The 18-year-old behind the wheel of the pickup truck was treated and released from a hospital as well. In similar past situations, those deemed responsible for the catastrophic injuries of others have been held legally accountable through personal injury claims filed by those who were injured or the immediate family members of those whose injuries were fatal. A Texas personal injury attorney has the knowledge needed to file and litigate such a claim in civil court.