Head-on collisions are some of the most serious accidents, due not only to the force involved but also to the direct impact. While there are many causes of head-on accidents, most of these accidents can be boiled down to one thing: driver error. In cases of inclement weather, it is incumbent upon all drivers to make sure they reduce their speed to fit the weather conditions. This may mean traveling below the posted speed limit when rain, snow, or ice is present on the road.
When a driver fails to take adequate precautions and causes an accident, that driver may be held liable to anyone injured as a result of their negligence. This often includes the drivers and passengers of other vehicles, and it also includes passengers in the negligent driver’s vehicle. In tragic cases in which a head-on accident results in the death of one or more of the people involved, a wrongful death lawsuit may be one way that aggrieved loved ones can seek compensation for their loss.
Two Dead in Gaithersburg Head-On Collision
Earlier this month, two men were killed in a mid-evening collision involving three cars. According to one local news source covering the tragedy, the accident occurred on Airpark Road in Gaithersburg at around 8:00 p.m.
Evidently, the driver of a Honda Civic was traveling eastbound on Airpark Road when the vehicle inexplicably crossed into oncoming traffic. An approaching Volkswagen Passat and Toyota Prius were unable to avoid the Civic and crashed into the vehicle head-on. The driver of the Passat, as well as the driver of the Civic, were both pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
Police are currently conducting an investigation into the fatal accident, but they believe that the driver of the Civic was at fault. Police also told reporters that speed was a factor.
Establishing Liability When the At-Fault Party Is Deceased
When a driver dies in an accident that they caused, others who are injured or killed in the accident still have a right to recover compensation from the at-fault driver through a negligence or wrongful death lawsuit. Generally speaking, all injured parties can file a claim with the company that insured the at-fault driver. In some cases, the at-fault party may have an estate that can also be named as a defendant in a personal injury lawsuit.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Car Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been injured in a Maryland car accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for all that you have been put through. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the accident, you may recover award amounts for your past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and any pain and suffering you endured as a result of the accident. The skilled attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers have decades of experience representing injured motorists against negligent drivers and their insurance companies. Call the Maryland personal injury attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers at 410-654-3600 today to set up a free consultation to discuss your case.
More Blog Posts:
Court Allows Plaintiff’s Bad-Faith Claim Against Insurance Company to Proceed, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published December 2, 2016.
Head-On Collisions Are Often a Result of Distracted or Aggressive Driving, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published November 15, 2016.