The family of a 10-year-old girl is mourning the loss of their family member after she died in a severe car accident. The accident happened at the intersection of Bailey Cove and Weatherly Road in Huntsville, Alabama. The girl and her family were reportedly returning home from their vacation in Panama City, Florida.
An 18-year-old man was driving a black Ford F-150 on Bailey Cover Road at a high rate of speed. He had reportedly already hit a motorcycle and three vehicles near the Mountain Gap Road intersection without stopping. No one involved in the first incident was injured. However, in the second scene, he hit five vehicles at the Bailey Cove Road intersection. This resulted in a wrongful death in which the girl died and eight others were injured.
The 18-year-old man suffered from serious injuries as well, including burns on the lower half of his body. Police took blood samples from the man, which they say is standard procedure in all traffic accidents. The man could be facing charges in the accident, and he could also be facing civil lawsuits as well. The people who were injured in the accident could decide to file personal injury lawsuits against him to seek compensation for their injuries. Additionally, the family of the young girl who died as a result of the accident could decide to file a wrongful death lawsuit against him.
A wrongful death lawyer might be able to help the family file their wrongful death claim if they choose to do so and negotiate a settlement. Their claim could state that their family member would not have died when she did if the 18-year-old driver had not been driving recklessly. Although most of these types of claims are settled outside of court, a wrongful death lawyer could help claimants present evidence proving their cases if need be.
Source: WHNT News 19, “Exclusive: Family Mourns Loss of Jaden Coppens“, Matt Kroschel and Drew Galloway, May 29, 2013
