When it comes to losing a loved one, not knowing what happened can be exceedingly challenging. However, finding out days later that the loss was the result of the negligence of another party can be even more difficult to accept, and surviving family members may wish to pursue restitution by filing a wrongful death claim. The body of a 36-year-old woman was recently discovered in a river in West Virginia following an investigation that led authorities to believe she was involved in a hit-and-run accident.
Local authorities say they received a call on a recent Tuesday concerning a possible hit-and-run accident involving a pedestrian. Upon arriving at the scene, they proceeded to investigate the area, but were apparently unable to uncover any evidence of a collision, partly due to the conditions of the river at the time. The following Saturday, a woman’s body was discovered in the river, and an inspection indicated that she had suffered numerous injuries, including two broken legs.
Police have initiated a search for the vehicle that may have struck the woman, using evidence from surveillance photos. Accidents involving pedestrians can be catastrophic, and leaving the scene of such an incident is ill-advised. Should the culpable party be found, the woman’s surviving family members may choose to pursue accountability through the civil justice system, apart from any criminal charges that would likely be filed.
Those who suffer such a tragic loss may choose to seek restitution, but they may be uncertain how to proceed. When facing a similar situation, a family could speak with an experienced attorney for assistance in navigating the process. An attorney in West Virginia can evaluate the circumstances surrounding the incident and assist a client in pursuing the compensation deserved through a wrongful death claim against the party deemed at fault.
Source: herald-dispatch.com, “Woman’s body found in Logan County Saturday“, Nancy Peyton, Sept. 10, 2017