A tragic accident in Missoula County that had already claimed two lives claimed another this month, when the only surviving victim succumbed to her injuries and passed away. A 23-year-old woman and a nine-year-old girl had already died in the accident, which happened near Lolo, Montana in February.
The fatal car accident happened on Highway 93 South when a pickup truck driven by the 23-year-old woman crossed the center line and collided with a vehicle occupied by a Florence woman and her nine-year-old daughter. The head-on collision killed the driver of the pickup and the child; the child’s mother survived but suffered serious injuries from which she died this month.
According to the Montana Highway Patrol, road conditions and speed were factors which caused the driver of the pickup to lose control.
When a loved one dies in an auto accident caused by a negligent driver, the surviving family members have the right to bring a wrongful death claim to recover compensation for their loss. The insurance company of the driver who was at fault will be responsible for paying any monetary damages, up to the policy limits. If those limits are insufficient, and if the victim had underinsured motorist coverage on their own policy, a claim can be made against that coverage for any uncompensated loss.
No lawsuit and no amount of financial compensation can bring back a lost loved one. But it can help the family recover financially from the loss, especially if family members were financially dependent on the deceased person. An experienced Montana personal injury attorney can help a family decide if they have a viable claim.
Source: KPAX.com, “Third person dies as result of Lolo accident,” Melissa Rafferty, March 11, 2014
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