Often times, when it is raining, such a basic task as crossing the street can become dangerous. Unfortunately for one young pedestrian who was just involved in an auto accident near Atlanta, this lesson came at the cost of her life.
A young 17-year-old was struck and killed when she attempted to cross Lawrenceville Highway. She was crossing the highway between Hamilton Road and James Road when she was hit by a large black Land Rover. The driver, a 49-year-old, was attempting to turn left and allegedly was unable to stop her vehicle before striking the young pedestrian. The pedestrian was taken to the hospital where she later died of her injuries. The driver has since been charged with a turn lane violation as well as second degree vehicular homicide. Some authorities speculate that the accident likely had to do with the rain and possibly a slippery road.
When a loved one is lost, there is an enormous amount of grief, but when it is a child, it is even worse. Trying to find solace can take years, but there are often unfortunately many costs associated with the death that have to be taken care of much sooner, such as medical bills, funeral expenses and any property damage if it was a two car accident. To recoup those losses, a lawsuit often must be brought against the other person involved. If a court determines that the defendant’s negligent was a substantial factor in causing the victim’s injuries, he or she will likely be ordered to pay monetary compensation to loved ones in order to cover medical expenses and pain and suffering.
Trying to recover after the loss of a loved one, especially a child, is an extraordinarily difficult process. Seeking out help is usually the first step. Ultimately however, holding a negligent party responsible for the injuries caused is an important part of the healing process and a crucial step in the civil justice system.
Source: My Fox Atlanta, “Police: Teen killed in pedestrian accident“, Jan. 17, 2013