In Missouri and throughout the country, motor vehicle accidents are often caused by drivers who make unsafe lane changes. In high-speed traffic, even if a motorist sees another driver being careless or reckless, the motorist may not have enough time to safely change positions on the roadway to avoid being hit. A recent collision involved two vehicles, one of which had been trying to pass a vehicle in the eastbound lane.
The driver of a Ford F-150 is said to have entered the westbound lane of traffic to pass a car in the eastbound lane. The vehicle slammed head-on into a Ford Taurus that was traveling west at the time. The impact of the collision sent both vehicles off the highway, moments before the F-150 ignited.
Not everyone survived the collision
Sadly, two occupants of the Ford Taurus, ages 43 and 46, were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. The driver who had entered the oncoming lane was transported by air to a hospital for emergency care. Missouri police from Troop D later stated that the two deaths associated with the incident mark five fatalities in their district this year.
Support for families who have lost loved ones in a fatal car accident
Grief is often intensified for families of fatally injured victims upon learning that the collision that caused their loved one’s death was preventable were it not for another driver’s negligence or reckless behavior. Missouri law provides recourse to immediate family members of decedents by allowing them to file a wrongful death claim in a civil court. In doing so, a family member may act on a decedent’s behalf to seek restitution against the person deemed responsible for damages.