When a car accident happens in West Virginia, it is not only the people directly involved in the crash who are impacted, especially when an accident victim dies. Family members must struggle with the loss of their loved one and find ways to put their lives back together. Friends, neighbors, and colleagues must also fill the hole left by the deceased person. Even strangers who witness such accidents may have to deal with some level of trauma.
Relatives of innocent people who die in auto accidents may be helped to some degree by seeking and receiving financial compensation for their loss. The administrator of a deceased person’s estate may also initiate this sort of proceeding. Recently a West Virginia jury was presented with a trial concerning the death of a pedestrian struck and killed by a vehicle in the autumn of 2013. A lawsuit was initiated in the spring of 2014.
In this particular case, the jury made awards to five people for their personal losses as well as another award for loss of the deceased future income. One person was awarded a total of $200,000 and three people were awarded $125,000 each. A fifth person was awarded $25 for loss of companionship, sorrow, and related injuries. With the addition of future income loss, the total amount awarded by the jury exceeded $795,000.
While no amount of money can replace a person, seeking this type of compensation is nonetheless one way of getting help in an otherwise difficult situation. People who have lost relatives due to others’ negligence may wish to speak with an attorney about their options.
Source: West Virginia Record, “Jury finds defendant 75 percent at fault for fatal accident,” Kyla Asbury, February 24, 2016
