A car accident on U.S. 19 in Florida resulted in the death of a driver on Nov. 11. According to the report, a 21-year-old man driving a Mazda Miata was traveling at a speed of more than 100 mph at approximately 3:15 a.m. when he slammed into the back of a Kia Sephia that was also heading north.
The impact caused the Kia to cross the median before coming to rest in the southbound left turn lane. The vehicle then caught fire. The driver, a 38-year-old woman, was transported to Trinity Medical Center where she later died as a result of her injuries.
According to a Florida Highway Patrol spokesman, the man was taken into police custody and was charged with possession of marijuana. He was taken to Pasco County jail. At the time the report was released, the accident was still under investigation. However, possible DUI manslaughter and other charges were pending toxicology reports.
A car accident caused by a drunk driver can have sudden negative impacts on a family. For example, the woman may have left behind young children who may not understand what had happened. In addition, the woman could have been a bread winner for her family and her sudden death could have potentially left her remaining family in trouble financially.
While it cannot bring a loved one back, surviving family members may be able to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. By doing so, they may be able to seek compensation to a wide range of damages that resulted from the accident, including medical expenses, funeral costs and loss of income. In most cases, the family and the driver’s insurance company agree on a figure that could potentially cover the entire costs associated with the accident.
Source: Tampa Bay Times, “Driver dies after being rear-ended in fiery U.S. 19 crash“, November 11, 2013
