In 2008, a fatal accident in Hawaii left a family mourning the loss of a child. According to reports, several car accidents involving vehicles that have veered across the center line of traffic on a certain road occurred prior to the 2008 crash. The design of the intersection on Farrington Highway was mentioned in a liability case that the deceased child’s family has since filed against the state.
On May 15, 2008, a man was driving a sedan, carrying his young son as a passenger in the rear seat of the vehicle. The man’s son was reported to have been properly restrained in a child car seat. Another driver, whose blood alcohol content level registered twice the legal driving limit, apparently crossed over the center line and crashed into the sedan. Sadly, the toddler and the car seat were ejected from the vehicle upon impact and the child did not survive.
The 25-year-old intoxicated driver also died as a result of the tragic crash. Though drunk driving was indeed found to be a leading cause of the collision, the child’s parents filed a lawsuit against the state, claiming that road barriers should have been in place to separate lanes of traffic headed in opposite directions. It has been reported that the potential damages for which the family seeks compensation could exceed $1 million.
Hawaii car accidents that result in the untimely death of a loved one sometimes lead to a legal claim being filed by immediate family members on behalf of the deceased. When the death has been caused by the negligent or wrongful actions of another party, surviving family members have a right to seek compensation for damages they have suffered due to the accident. A person considering filing a similar claim might wish to seek the consultation of a legal professional who has experience in representing victims of car accidents.
Source: civilbeat.com, “Why Did a Fatal Car Wreck Cost State Taxpayers $900,000?“, Marina Riker, Accessed on May 26, 2015