A tragic accident in north central Montana has injured a woman and killed a 17-year-old girl. The accident happened near Box Elder, in Hill County. According to the local sheriff’s office, the 17-year-old Shawmut girl was driving north on U.S. Highway 87 shortly after 6 p.m. on a recent Sunday afternoon. For some reason she lost control of her vehicle and crossed over into the southbound lane. She was involved in a head-on crash with a car driven by a 30-year-old Havre woman.
According to the Montana Highway Patrol, both victims were taken to a medical facility in Havre. The teenage girl was declared dead. The 30-year-old Havre woman suffered injuries in the accident, but the extent of those injuries was not known at the time a news report of the crash was published.
When a person is injured in a car accident caused by negligence, they have the right to make a claim for damages against the negligent driver. Damages are paid by the insurance company of the at-fault driver, up to the limits of the policy. Sometimes the negligent driver is killed in the crash. In those cases the claim can be made against the negligent driver’s estate, and their insurance company is still obligated to pay the damages.
When a person suffers serious injury in an auto accident it can turn their life upside down. Medical bills pile up, and even after health insurance pays its share there can still be a hefty balance due from the patient. Time lost from work can result in loss of income and serious financial hardship. Through a personal injury lawsuit the injured victim can recover compensation for these losses, as well as for their pain and suffering.
Source: Billings Gazette, “17-year-old girl dies in crash near Box Elder,” Jan. 13, 2014
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