When a loved one dies in a sudden and unexpected event, the lives of the surviving family members are forever altered. The initial shock and grief are tremendous, and can take many months to overcome. However, there are a number of other ramifications that also affect loved ones, and can require a different kind of adjustment. A recent car crash involving an impaired driver has left one family grieving their loss, and could eventually lead to a wrongful death suit against the driver.
Police report that a 42-year-old man was riding in the backseat of a Hyundai Santa Fe on Texas 6 when another vehicle approached from the opposite direction. The driver of that vehicle allowed her large SUV to cross the center line, crashing into a Ford Escape. The SUV driver went on to hit the Hyundai, causing the driver of that vehicle to lose control and crash into two other vehicles.
As a result, two passengers in the back of the Hyundai were thrown from the vehicle, including the 42-year-old man. He died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash; the other backseat passenger remains hospitalized in serious condition. The woman whom police believe caused the accident was arrested and subsequently charged with intoxication manslaughter.
For the family left behind, this fatal car accident will have ramifications that go beyond their initial grief and sadness. Should this man have been a father, his children will grow up without his presence and influence. Furthermore, his family will have to adjust to a reality in which his income and household duties will no longer be a part of their daily lives, which will require a long period of difficulty. Should they decide to move forward with a wrongful death action, the outcome could help them deal with the financial losses associated with the Texas crash, which can provide some relief as they deal with their grief and try to move on.
Source: YourHoustonNews.com, “Charges filed in fatal wreck on Texas 6,” Jan. 3, 2013
