When vehicles collide head-on at highway speeds, the results are often fatal. That was unfortunately the case when a head-on collision occurred recently near Alzada, Montana on U.S. Highway 212. A 16-year-old boy from South Dakota was killed in the crash.
According to the Montana Highway Patrol, the three-vehicle crash occurred when a Chevrolet Cruze struck some farm equipment being hauled behind a Chevy Silverado pickup. The Cruze then collided head-on with a pickup driven by the South Dakota teenager.
The driver of the Cruze, a 31-year-old man from Tacoma, Washington, was injured in the crash. The driver of the Silverado, a 43-year-old South Dakota man, was unhurt. The Highway Patrol is conducting an accident investigation with assistance from local law enforcement agencies.
When a loved one is killed in a car accident caused by negligence, family members have the right to sue the negligent driver for damages under Montana’s wrongful death law. If negligence is proven, the next of kin are entitled to compensation for medical expenses, funeral costs, loss of support and loss of companionship.
Negligence means the failure to act with reasonable care under the circumstances. In a multi-vehicle accident, proving negligence typically requires interviewing witnesses and reviewing physical evidence such as skid marks, damage to the automobiles and the locations where the vehicles came to rest. In many cases it is beneficial to consult an accident reconstruction expert and have the expert testify as a witness. Those who have suffered the death of a family member in a motor vehicle accident may wish to meet with an experienced personal injury attorney to evaluate the case.
Source: Rapid City Journal, “Three area teens die in vehicle crashes,” Aug. 11, 2014
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