A recent West Virginia motor vehicle collision in Spring Mills caused injury to at least 12 people and caused the death of another. Although the cause of the car accident was initially under investigation, police now say that the driver was drunk at the time the crash happened. While the driver is facing criminal charges, the accident could be grounds for personal injury claims and a wrongful death lawsuit as well.
The driver, 23, was officially charged with driving under the influence of a controlled substance and DUI causing death. According to West Virginia law enforcement, the vehicle driven by this man hit a tractor-trailer while traveling on Interstate 81. The car spun out of control, causing a pile-up that involved two semi trucks and 14 other vehicles.
One person died at the scene of the accident, and a dozen more were hurt. While most were treated by medical professionals, one remains hospitalized. Medical treatment of any kind is expensive, and innocent car accident victims could be left with the burden of financial losses in addition to their physical injuries and emotional duress.
The damage caused by a car accident cannot be reversed by financial compensation alone. However, a successfully presented personal injury or wrongful death claim can help in recovering monetary losses. After an accident that appears to have been caused by the negligence of one or more parties, injured victims and family members of anyone who has been killed can better understand their legal options by seeking a case evaluation with an experienced lawyer.
Source: wdbj7.com, “West Virginia man charged in I-81 wreck that killed one, injured at least a dozen“, June 17, 2016