When a person dies immediately as a result of a car crash, it is typically easy to understand how the driver at fault is accountable. In the case of a recent car accident here in Oklahoma, the path forward for law enforcement and the victim’s family may be less clear. The collision took the life of a 58-year-old man, but his death only came after several days in the hospital.
Police say that the collision happened on a recent afternoon at a rural intersection. A sedan traveling south allegedly ran a through a stop sign. Officials report that the sedan struck a passenger truck heading west through the intersection at the same time. The impact caused the vehicles to hit a fence, finally stopping in a field off the intersection.
A man who was a passenger in the truck had to be taken to a nearby hospital. He arrived in critical condition, but ultimately died due to his injuries, three days after the accident occurred. Police have not announced whether they intend to charge the driver of the sedan with any crime, nor have they discussed any possible contributing factors, such as intoxicated driving.
Although the man did not immediately pass away, the driver of the other vehicle could still face full financial accountability, both in any related criminal proceedings and through civil litigation. In the case of a wrongful death claim, the family of the man likely has grounds to file a lawsuit in pursuit of monetary damages that may help them cover expenses related to the car accident, such as funeral expenses and unpaid medical bills. Such a claim may be extremely important in this particular case since the man spent three days in the hospital and likely endured considerable pain and suffering prior to his death. A personal injury attorney here in Oklahoma can help families in a similar scenario determine their available options.
