The Oklahoma State University community is mourning the loss of an 18-year-old student after a fatal car accident on Jan. 18.
The young woman was reportedly driving in the Stillwater area when a pickup truck rear-ended her vehicle. The local fire department and LifeNet responded to the scene, but the young woman succumbed to her injuries. The police department was investigating the accident at the time of a Jan. 21 report, though the driver of the pickup truck was not suspected to have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Fatal auto accidents often leave grieving families in search of answers, and the pain of losing a loved one may be especially acute for people who have lost a young family member.
Wrongful death claims are common in these events to help families with the financial burdens left in the wake of a loved one’s death. For example, the loss of a wage earner can be devastating to a family, or the expenses for the funeral arrangements can put families in difficult financial situations.
Oklahoma law provides for the estate of the victim or the victim’s surviving family members to pursue compensation for what is commonly referred to as the pain and suffering experienced by the deceased. Families who lose a loved one in a particularly tragic and painful manner often seek experienced legal assistance in building these cases.
In fact, many families faced with such a devastating situation are unaware of their legal options until they speak with an attorney.
Source: Stillwater News Press, “Oklahoma State University student dies in car accident on Saturday,” Megan Sando, Jan. 21, 2014
