A Friday morning accident involving a utility truck claimed the life of a pedestrian in DeKalb County. The accident occurred at around 8:45 AM on eastbound Interstate 20 near Paonia Road. The accident resulted in all lanes being blocked, with motorists being diverted from the area on Exit 71 at Paonia Road. Pedestrians always face a higher likelihood of serious injuries or death from a motor vehicle accident than the occupants of motor vehicles, due to the lack of protection for the pedestrian’s body from injury by a much bigger, heavier, and faster-moving vehicle. The risk of severe injury or death increases when the accident occurs on an interstate due to the higher speed that the vehicles are traveling. Around 515 pedestrians are killed on interstates each year, accounting for 10-12 percent of all pedestrian fatalities.
If you have lost a loved one as a result of a pedestrian accident that was caused by a careless or reckless driver, you can seek compensation for your financial and emotional losses through a wrongful death lawsuit. This is a legal claim filed in civil court for the benefits of the deceased’s family members, including their spouse, surviving children, surviving parents, or a named administrator or executor of the deceased’s estate. The type of losses you can be compensated for through this action include final medical expenses and funeral costs, lost wages and benefits the deceased would have been reasonably expected to earn if he or she had lived, and lost companionship and care that the deceased provided to their family members.
Wrongful death claims generally must be filed within two years of the date of death. To learn more about the wrongful death claims process, contact Cambre & Associates LLCfor a free case evaluation.
