While many motor vehicle collisions cause injury and property damage, fatalities are also possible. Collisions are one of the top causes of death among all age groups in the United States.
The losses related to a wreck can cause financial devastation for those grieving a fatal crash. Families seeking to defray the costs of a fatal crash may need to consider the three common sources of compensation briefly outlined below.
1. Liability insurance
State statutes require drivers to carry liability coverage. Every policy should provide at a minimum $15,000 in property damage coverage and at least $30,000 in injury-related coverage. Factors including the number of people affected by the crash and whether the driver at fault carried additional insurance can influence whether insurance alone adequately offsets the cost of a fatal wreck. Most of the time, the need to recover medical expenses and lost wages means that insurance is insufficient.
2. Wrongful death litigation
When one person causes the death of another through illegal behavior or negligence, a wrongful death lawsuit may be possible. Surviving dependent family members can seek compensation from the driver at fault for the collision when insurance is clearly inadequate given the extent of their losses.
3. Third-party lawsuits and insurance claims
Occasionally, businesses may have a degree of liability for a fatal crash. Perhaps the driver at fault was an employee who was on the clock. Their employer might be liable for the consequences of the wreck. Maybe defective vehicle components or improper repairs led to a vehicle failing in traffic. In such scenarios, vehicle manufacturers and service providers could be partially liable for a collision.
Grieving survivors may need assistance reviewing insurance coverage, negotiating claims and exploring options for civil litigation after a tragedy, and that’s okay. Reviewing every source of compensation with a skilled legal team is often necessary to defray the significant expenses associated with fatal wrecks.
